Abdul Fatawu delivered a heart‑stopping finale at the King Power Stadium, smashing home a 94th‑minute volley to snatch a vital Championship victory for Leicester City and spark wild scenes amid a night shadowed by fan protests.
A frozen stadium, a simmering discontent
Bitter cold and a visible boycott left swathes of the 32,000‑seat arena eerily sparse as supporters staged a public rebuke of owner Khun Aiyawatt “Top” Srivaddhanaprabha. The silence from those who stayed away was as loud as the jeers from those who remained, a stark backdrop to a game that felt as much about club identity as three points.
Early drama and a game of two halves
Jordan Ayew rewarded the hardy faithful with a bright start, combining with Jordan James to sweep home from close range and give Leicester an early lead. West Brom hit back before the break when Karlan Grant raced onto a counter and curled a composed finish into the bottom corner, restoring parity and setting the stage for a tense second half.
Albion dominate but cannot finish
The visitors carved out the better chances after the interval. Isaac Price saw a shot cannon back off the post, and Leicester keeper Jakub Stolarczyk produced a string of crucial saves in a man‑of‑the‑match display that kept the Foxes in the contest. West Brom’s pressure was relentless, but clinical finishing eluded them.
Last‑gasp brilliance
Just when the scoreboard threatened to freeze on a draw, Leicester conjured a moment of pure theatre. A slick team move involving Bobby De Cordova‑Reid, Fatawu and James culminated in a pinpoint cross from Stephy Mavididi. Fatawu met it with a thunderous volley from 15 yards, crashing the ball home and sending the home end into raptures — and the away bench into stunned silence.
Little relief for managers under fire
The manner of the win does little to ease the heat on Leicester boss Marti Cifuentes, whose side have struggled for consistency and whose relationship with supporters is frayed. For West Brom’s Ryan Mason, the defeat extended a miserable away run and piled pressure on a team that has created chances but failed to convert them into points.
Tension off the pitch, consequences on it
Supporters’ grievances run deep: poor results across the season, a second Premier League relegation in three years, and an ongoing legal battle over alleged profit and sustainability breaches have all fed the unrest. The empty seats were a visible protest, and Cifuentes acknowledged the message, urging better performances to coax fans back.
Voices from the touchline
Cifuentes praised the late winner and the team’s togetherness, while admitting there are clear areas to improve. Mason, proud of his players’ effort and creativity, lamented a lack of finishing and discipline that ultimately cost his side a point.
Leicester leave the King Power with three precious points and a dramatic memory to cling to, but the night’s headlines will be as much about the club’s off‑field turmoil as Fatawu’s spectacular strike. The result buys time — but not forgiveness — and both clubs head into the next fixtures with questions to answer.
