Baptism Of Fire For Ruud As Brentford Spank Leicester 4-1
New Leicester manager Ruud van Nistelrooy watched Kevin Schade net a hat-trick as Brentford thumped the Foxes to underline the size of the task he faces.
The former Manchester United striker, who has yet to over coaching matters, with Ben Dawson overseeing Leicester for this game, sat next to owner Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha in the stands at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday.
And the Dutchman saw his new side overrun to offer little suggestion they have the quality to pull away from danger.
Schade’s treble added to Yoane Wissa’s equaliser in the first half after Facundo Buonanotte’s 21st-minute goal put the Foxes ahead against the run of play.
The dominant Bees were 3-1 ahead by half-time with Wissa and Schade firing them in front within eight minutes of going behind.
Schade, who was also denied an early opener by a fine Mads Hermansen save, added a third in first-half stoppage time, the Germany international’s first top-flight goals of the season.
Thomas Frank’s impressively fluid side are now eighth in the Premier League, two points adrift of the top four, after a fourth home win in a row for the first time in the top flight since 1937.
It is in stark contrast to the Foxes and Van Nistelrooy will have been unimpressed when the passive visitors were split by Nathan Collins’ pass for Schade to complete his hat-trick after 59 minutes.
Leicester host West Ham on Tuesday sitting a point above the relegation zone when Van Nistelrooy will be in the dugout.
The Foxes players needed a performance after the criticism of their Christmas party in Copenhagen last weekend, 24 hours before Steve Cooper was sacked on Sunday.
They failed and ex-PSV manager Van Nistelrooy will have seen enough on Saturday to show him what the Foxes are missing. After a limp fifth defeat in eight games, he needs to make an instant impact.
Last season’s struggles, when they finished 16th, have long been forgotten, as have any concerns following the summer sale of Ivan Toney.
Sitting two points from the top four, they are the highest scorers at home in the Premier League this season, Saturday’s four goals taking their total to 22.
Victory also takes them to 19 points at home this season, which is another league high.
And the Bees have scored at least three times in four consecutive home league fixtures for the first time since 1984.
Frank’s side are setting new records and he even had the luxury of bringing Schade into the side on Saturday and being rewarded by the Germany international scoring his first Premier League goals of the season.
The frustration will be the sole clean sheet this term, in last week’s 0-0 draw at Everton, and the lack of an away win – but their home form is curing any ills so far.
Brentford have lost at Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham and Manchester United – along with Fulham – which shows there is still a gap between them and the top sides, but the Bees look like they could bridge that quickly in the second half of the season.
Van Nistelrooy needs to work quickly to repair the fractures at Leicester before they start to cause real damage.
If the defeat at the Gtech Community Stadium was not bad enough, the murmurings from the away supporters would have crystallised a growing problem the Foxes face.
At least twice during the game the supporters, briefly, chanted for director of football Jon Rudkin to leave and those sentiments will not disappear, especially with passive performances in west London.
And the away fans sang “this is embarrassing” and “you’re not fit to wear the shirt” towards the end after Schade’s hat-trick put the game beyond reach.
The hierarchy have come under consistent criticism over the years, including following the appointment of Claudio Ranieri in 2015 just before the Italian stunned the world by leading the Foxes to the Premier League title in 2016.
It has been allowed to fester this season. The appointment of Steve Cooper never resonated with the fans, and the King Power Stadium no longer has the electric atmosphere of old.
The players’ Christmas party in Copenhagen last weekend, although pre-approved by the club, is likely to drive a further wedge between them and the fanbase.
The younger supporters have grown up knowing the success of the Premier League triumph, a Champions League quarter-final and the 2021 FA Cup win.
Leicester have changed, it is obvious they are no longer that side or club despite having loftier ambitions than a relegation battle, and it would be wise for those in charge to help the fans understand the direction of the club.
