Plymouth Argyle delivered a shocking blow to Leicester City's Championship promotion aspirations while boosting their own survival chances with a 1-0 win last night at Home Park. This unexpected victory disrupted the leaders' momentum and illustrated the unpredictability of football at this level.

Despite being dominated in possession and early play, Plymouth found their stride 21 minutes into the game with a goal from Mustapha Bundu. Adam Forshaw played a pivotal role, launching a superb counter-attacking pass that Bundu finished coolly, sliding the ball past the Leicester defense and goalkeeper. This goal stood as the sole difference between the two sides at the final whistle.

Leicester, fielding a strong lineup, dominated the stats but failed in execution. They enjoyed a whopping 70% possession and outshot Plymouth with 17 attempts to Plymouth's 5, but only 4 of these troubled the goalkeeper, highlighting their struggles to convert dominance into goals. Key player Patson Daka had numerous chances, including a couple in the crucial early stages of the second half, but failed to capitalize, leaving the Foxes frustrated.

Argyle's goalkeeper, Michael Cooper, was a standout performer, making crucial saves including a late one-on-one against Jamie Vardy in the 87th minute to ensure his team held on for a memorable win. The defensive resilience and strategic counter-attacks orchestrated by interim leadership duo Neil Dewsnip and Kevin Nancekivell were instrumental in this result.

Post-match, Neil Dewsnip expressed his satisfaction, stating, "We knew exactly how difficult it was going to be. We had a game plan and thankfully it's paid off. It was our night, and I'm delighted for our players, they worked incredibly hard."

On the other side, Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca appeared visibly concerned about his team's lack of finishing despite creating ample opportunities. "We need to take our chances to win our games," Maresca remarked. "At this moment, we are struggling to score goals but we've created chances inside the six-yard box, in the box, outside the box."

This loss, following a previous away defeat to Millwall, leaves Leicester City still at the top of the table but now level on points with Ipswich Town and only one point ahead of Leeds United, both of whom have games in hand. This tightens the race for automatic promotion, adding pressure on Leicester to recover form in their remaining fixtures.

For Plymouth, the victory is more than a morale booster; it lifts them from 20th to 16th in the standings, creating a five-point buffer from the relegation zone. With their unbeaten run extending to three games under the temporary management, hopes are high at Home Park for retaining their Championship status.

The upcoming fixtures for both teams are crucial. Plymouth Argyle will look to continue their form against lower-table teams, while Leicester must find a way to convert their chances into victories to secure their spot back in the Premier League. With only a few games left in the season, every match counts, and as last night proved, in football, surprises are always around the corner.

What had we predicted? View Plymouth Argyle vs Leicester City Friday 12th April 2024 predictions

View Argyle vs Leicester City Friday 12th April 2024 Match Highlights