You need to catch some breaks to win a Premier League title, and Leicester City’s had a few over the last several games.
That’s especially true when it comes to uncalled handballs in the box. A few weeks back against Newcastle there was one in a 1-0 win, and there were two such shouts Sunday versus Southampton.
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First, Danny Simpson’s elbow knocked down Sadio Mane’s chipped effort toward a yawning frame. Then, Robert Huth’s dangling hand blocked a Charlie Austin cross from reaching the Leicester goal.
One should’ve been called. Heck, maybe both. But that’s the life Leicester is leading right now, and Southampton manager Ronald Koeman is pretty exasperated by Sunday’s day in the life of Leicester.
From the BBC:“If it is not a handball, it is a goal. I don’t know what they are doing. This is a big match. It is about the Premier League title and our ambitions to play in Europe.
“The second one was when Robert Huth handled.
“I don’t say they don’t deserve the victory, that they don’t fight and have amazing spirit, but if it is a penalty and a red card they don’t win.”
The majority of us are enjoying Leicester’s stunning run, but Koeman deserves to rue Sunday’s result. Simpson’s was at-best debatable, but Fuchs is pretty clear-cut.
My rule of thumb when imagining a penalty is, “Would you have exhaled and said, ‘Tough break’” if it was called? I’d bet Leicester fans would admit to that on at least one count.
It’s fair to ask whether the Leicester dream is seeping into the subconscious of officials.