Fans want board out, X-rated chants at players – King Power Stadium turns poisonous as Leicester relegated

Leicester City’s relegation to League One was confirmed on a night when toxicity rained down on the King Power Stadium.

The Foxes were held to an entertaining 2-2 draw by Hull in their last chance to avoid the drop.

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Leicester’s desperate attempt to stay in the Championship saw them turn to Gary Rowett following the sacking of Marti Cifuentes in January.

However, Rowett failed to deliver his remit having overseen just one win in 12 matches.

talkSPORT understands Leicester and Rowett are expected to part company in the summer with no expectation from either side for Rowett to carry on with Leicester in League One.

All or nothing

The Foxes had managed just one win in their last 17 Championship fixtures prior to Tuesday’s visit of Hull, knowing only a win would be enough to keep them in the second tier… for the time being.

Few Leicester City supporters turned up for their must-win match against their promotion-chasing opponents and the same can be said for some of the club’s players.

The scattering of fans who braved the final nail in their Championship coffin were quick to let the players know exactly what they thought of them before a ball was even kicked.

Fans were heard booing the players’ names as they were read out by the matchday announcer.

And the disdain continued in the moments preceding kick off when the Foxes’ starting XI were jeered as they entered the pitch.

That set the tone for what was to come – a continuation of Leicester’s tepid form littered with inexplicable errors.

In times of need, experienced pros are expected to step up and lead by example. Instead, Leicester were let down by theirs.

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Asmir Begovic’s incomprehensible wayward pass intended for Jamaal Lascelles landed at the feet of Hull’s Liam Millar who gratefully snapped up the gift to fire the Tigers ahead in the 18th minute.

Boos subsequently rang out around the King Power Stadium as the 38-year-old apologetically held his hand up.

The reaction told its own story. In the stands, heads shook from left to right in tandem.

Interim boss Gary Rowett appeared dejected on the touchline.

Similar reactions came from under-fire Chief Football Officer Jon Rudkin and chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha.

The pair were then hit with chants of ‘sack the board’ from those in attendance during and after the match as the disdain for those in charge reached lower depths.

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Winks in the firing line

Then it was the turn of Harry Winks who was named on the bench following his X-rated altercation with a fan following Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Portsmouth.

The former Tottenham man was told to warm up on the touchline and did so whilst applauding the fans.

However, his pleasantries were wholly rejected as fans directed boos at him before chanting ‘Harry Winks, what a w*****’.

The midfielder spent the interval warming up on the pitch with fans skipping their half-time pies to boo his every touch.

Then came the unthinkable.

Not only did Leicester equalise through a Jordan James penalty shortly after half time but Luke Thomas had the audacity to fire the Foxes into the lead two-minutes later.

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All of a sudden, fans were checking the live league table wondering if a great escape was on.

For nine minutes, a rare wave of optimism shrouded the King Power Stadium.

Then, Winks was introduced in place of James who appeared to have picked up a knock and fans let him know their feelings.

He entered the pitch to further cries of ‘w*****’ while every touch was heavily booed by the home faithful.

But normal service was resumed when Oli McBurnie took advantage of yet more poor defending to pull Hull level.

Rather than fold, as they have done on too many occasions to mention this season, Leicester did something they haven’t done in months – show fight and endeavour.

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Substitute Aaron Ramsey missed two gilt-edged chances. Stephy Mavididi went close as did Patson Daka.

The crowd responded. Incredibly, Winks was given a round of applause as he shaped up to take a corner. The turnaround was complete and the stadium was as one…briefly.

Too little, too late

Fans shouted ‘come on Leicester’ as seven minutes were added on for stoppages.

Ramsey and Thomas missed further chances in the dying moments but for all of their 30 minutes of endeavour, it was a case of too little too late.

A further chorus of ‘sack the board’ echoed around the King Power Stadium as the final whistle condemned the Foxes to their fate.

From the impossible to the unthinkable, Leicester will play in the third tier for just the second time in their history next season, ten years after being crowned Premier League champions.