Souness' run goes from bad to worse

Leicester - 2 Blackburn Rovers - 0 If Graeme Souness thought life could not get any worse at Blackburn Rovers, he was wrong. By somehow losing yesterday to a Leicester City side who had looked incapable of winning, his team slipped to second from bottom amid a mounting crisis.

The Scot was said by his assistant Tony Parkes to be at his lowest since he came to Ewood Park in March, 2000 and this fifth consecutive league defeat will feel especially painful because Blackburn dominated possession and chances until Leicester scored twice in the final 15 minutes. The goals, both from set-pieces, came from Leicester's only two shots of a dull game, and after Blackburn's defence lost concentration when they most needed it.

If the marking was appalling then, Blackburn's finishing was little better. Dwight Yorke should have scored in the first half and Andy Cole wasted three opportunities after the interval, being denied on one occasion by Ian Walker.

Souness seemed to be complaining about something to the fourth official after the final whistle but his players alone were to blame.

This was a match they controlled without looking impressive and, if they cannot defeat a Leicester team that was worse than ordinary and short of confidence after throwing away leads against Spurs and Wolves, it begs the question of whom they will beat. Leicester are now off the bottom.

Certainly more than bad luck is to blame for a run which has seen Rovers claim one win in all competitions since they hammered Wolves 5-1 on the opening day.

The blunt truth is their nose for goal is blocked and their defence is far too vulnerable. On only two occasions were they seriously tested, and they crumbled. At the other end one goal from five Premiership matches is damning. Cole and Yorke clearly lack the sharpness of their best days.

Micky Adams conceded that Blackburn would have won had Walker not denied Cole with an outstretched leg in the 64th minute but the Leicester manager's admission that "Blackburn were the better team for the whole game" will be of little consolation to Souness.

The Blackburn manager declined to talk afterwards, sending Parkes instead. "He's never had a run like this after years of success," the assistant said, "and it's come as a bit of a shock with the quality of players we've got. He's not reading the riot act but he's very, very disappointed. He takes it personally."

Leicester had been on the back foot for the most part, looked bereft of ideas and fluency and seem to have few players of Premiership class. They had not looked like scoring until suddenly the goals came from nowhere.

Muzzy Izzet created both, sending in a free-kick which Marcus Bent knocked in thanks to poor marking by Vratislav Gresko, and then the corner which led to the second. James Scowcroft headed across goal and Matt Elliott headed back for Steve Howey to fire in.