After an uncharacteristically-poor first-half performance from Leicester City against Tony Mowbray’s Birmingham in the FA Cup on Saturday afternoon, Enzo Maresca brandished his side’s opening 45 minutes as a disaster
during his half-time debrief, but a couple of alterations at the break turned the tie in the Foxes’ favour.The second-tier leaders were not able to control the contest in their usual manner in the first period,
but the introductions of Ricardo Pereira and James Justin provided stability for the hosts, with Jamie Vardy, Yunus Akgun and Denis Praet finding the back of John Ruddy’s net to book their place in the fifth
round.For only the second time this season, Leicester are currently enduring a two-game winless run in the Championship following a loss in the M69 derby against Coventry City before sharing the spoils with Ipswich Town last Monday, but Maresca’s men remain top of
the league standings, seven points ahead of Kieran McKenna’s Tractor Boys in second.The Foxes’ first-choice midfield of Harry Winks, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Wilfred Ndidi possesses the pedigree to ply its trade in the
Premier League, but with the latter set for a period on the sidelines, Maresca is keen to sign fellow Italian Stefano Sensi from Inter Milan in what remains of the January transfer window.Stephy Mavididi’s trademark runs off
the left flank – followed by a curling finish – have caused havoc for the majority of second-tier defences this term, with the 25-year-old thriving in a side set for an immediate return to the top flight, providing 13 goal contributions in 28 matches.
Swansea supporters will be sick of the sight of the South Coast after 5-0 defeats at both Southampton and Bournemouth over the past month, with the Welsh outfit falling victims to a clinical performance from the Premier League Cherries on Thursday night in the FA Cup fourth round.All the damage was done during a rampant first half from Andoni Iraola’s men, as Lloyd Kelly, Alex Scott, Luis Sinisterra, David
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Brooks and Dominic Solanke all breached the net of Andrew Fisher, who did not manage to make a single save over the course of 90 minutes at the Vitality Stadium.Luke Williams has endured a mixed start to life as Swansea manager following the sacking of Michael Duff
in December, with the former Notts County boss winning his first game against Morecambe in the FA Cup before earning just the single second-tier point from clashes against Birmingham City and Russell Martin’s Saints.The Swans currently occupy 16th
position in the Championship standings, sitting 10 points behind in-form Coventry City in sixth, meaning a push for a playoff spot in the final months of the campaign feels slightly unrealistic for a side who have won just two of their last eight league matches.
