Leicester City FC faced Shrewsbury Town in a friendly match at The Croud Meadow on 23 July 2024, with the visitors emerging victorious with a scoreline of 2-1. The match kicked off at 7:45pm, showcasing a competitive spirit as both teams aimed to fine-tune their squads ahead of the new season.
Leicester City adopted a 4-2-3-1 formation, which allowed them to maintain a solid defensive structure while providing ample support for their attacking players. Danny Ward took his position in goal, shielded by a back four consisting of Ricardo Pereira and Luke Thomas as the right and left defenders, respectively, with Ben Nelson and Conor Coady forming the central defensive partnership. In midfield, Harry Winks and Wilfred Ndidi operated as the central midfielders, tasked with both breaking up opposition play and facilitating forward movement. The attacking trio featured Abdul Fatawu on the right, Stephy Mavididi on the left, and Kasey McAteer in the central attacking role, with Patson Daka leading the line as the striker.
The substitutes for Leicester included Tom Cannon, Caleb Okoli, Wanya Marcal, Boubakary Soumare, Hamza Choudhury, Harry Souttar, James Justin, Brandon Cover, Will Alves, and Michael Golding, providing a wealth of options for tactical adjustments throughout the match.
The first significant moment came in the 27th minute when Stephy Mavididi showcased his set-piece prowess by scoring a stunning direct free-kick. His right-footed effort curled over the wall and into the net, giving Leicester a 1-0 lead. The visitors maintained their advantage as the first half drew to a close, with Shrewsbury struggling to find a response.
As the second half commenced, Leicester made a flurry of substitutions, bringing on Tom Cannon, Caleb Okoli, Wanya Marcal, Boubakary Soumare, Hamza Choudhury, Harry Souttar, and James Justin, all of whom replaced key starters. This tactical shift aimed to inject fresh energy into the team.
However, just six minutes into the second half, disaster struck for Leicester as an own goal from Shrewsbury brought the score to 1-1. The home side capitalised on the momentum, but Leicester quickly regrouped and responded with determination.
In the 52nd minute, Kasey McAteer restored Leicester's lead with a clever lob, assisted by James Justin's long pass. McAteer's right-footed finish showcased his composure in front of goal, putting Leicester ahead once more at 2-1.
Leicester continued to manage the game effectively, making further substitutions in the 63rd and 64th minutes, with Brandon Cover and Will Alves replacing Kasey McAteer and Stephy Mavididi, respectively, while Michael Golding came on for Luke Thomas. These changes aimed to maintain Leicester's control as the match approached its conclusion.
Despite Shrewsbury's attempts to find an equaliser, Leicester's defence held firm, and the visitors secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory. The match served as a valuable exercise for both teams, with Leicester showcasing their attacking flair and resilience in the face of adversity.
