Fuming Gary Lineker tells Leicester to 'get a grip' as Premier League return bid falters

Gary Lineker has pleaded with Leicester to shed the nerves and finish the season strongly to achieve promotion back to the Premier League.

Leicester had threatened to run away with the Championship by winning 25 of their opening 32 games, but have lost six of their last 10 to be reeled in by Ipswich and Leeds. They currently sit second, a point behind Ipswich and one ahead of third-placed Leeds, with a game in hand, after both of their rivals also dropped points on the weekend.

Back-to-back 1-0 defeats against Millwall and Plymouth have left the Foxes fanbase nervous that Enzo Maresca’s side might be stuttering at the worst time, with four games remaining. So ahead of tough fixtures against fifth-placed West Brom and fourth-placed Southampton, Lineker has issued a rallying cry.

“Nobody wants to go up. Nobody wants to win a game. Nobody wants to score a bloody goal,” The Match of the Day presenter said on the Rest Is Football podcast. “As for Leicester, how are they getting away with it at the moment? They lost on Friday night, then Leeds managed to lose at home, then Ipswich didn’t manage to win at home.”

Leicester fans were heard booing their team after the 1-0 loss at Plymouth on Friday, prompting a passionate response from Lineker. He said: “It was an away game. The last few games have been away and maybe it is the fans who have travelled. If you have gone to Millwall and then gone all the way down to Plymouth, which is a long way, and your team hasn’t scored a goal or performed at all, then I am sure there will be a few rumbles.

“I mean, I have got lots of Leicester fans who are friends and family, including three of my lads, and we are all bloody grumbling. But, we also know the results have been so favourable – even after they have lost it is still in Leicester’s hands to go up.

“They have got three of their last four games at home, but come on lads. Get a grip. Get a grip! Make it happen. Don’t just hope it happens. Get out there, make it happen. Stop trembling, stop being nervous. Get out there, score some goals, have some fun, play some football, entertain the crowd, win the bloody title and get back in the Premier League. There you go, there is my team talk.”

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

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While it appears to be a three-horse race for automatic promotion, Southampton are not yet out of the running following Flynn Downes’ dramatic 99th-minute winner against Watford on Saturday. Saints are on 81 points – six adrift of Leeds in third – but have two games in hand on Daniel Farke’s side and Ipswich, while one of their remaining games is against Leicester.

Next up, Leicester host West Brom and Ipswich travel to play-off-chasing Hull on Saturday, while Leeds are away to Middlesbrough – who are unbeaten in nine games – on Monday.

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