Nigel Pearson's team lead the Championship by 10 points and may see last season's anguish as a blessing in disguise
For Leicester City Anthony Knockaert's celebration at Vicarage Road in December was an exercise in exorcism. Knockaert, after scoring in the second half of a comfortable 3-0 victory, ran to the travelling supporters as if the biggest of burdens had been disposed of, relief and joy etched on his face in equal measure.
His reaction was no surprise. Leicester, who will be reunited with Watford on Saturday in the Championship, were one kick away from a play-off final and a shot at promotion to the Premier League, only for Manuel Almunia to save Knockaert's penalty in the dying seconds. Watford, with their campaign seemingly at an end, then countered to score in the most dramatic of finishes.
Leicester were inconsolable, yet now, having kept Nigel Pearson at the helm, are having a season in the sun. From annus horribilis to annus mirabilis the Foxes are currently 10 points clear at the top of the table and 13 ahead of Burnley in third. This time around there will surely be no bitter denouement.
"If we'd have gone up last year you wonder if we would have gone straight back down," says Ian Bason, chairman of the Foxes Trust. "It wouldn't have been definite but this year we should go up as a much stronger unit for the experience some of the younger players have gained this season.
"We're only now about two points behind what we got for the whole of last season. We had a bad run this time last year but I can't see it happening at the moment."
Automatic promotion beckons for Leicester, who could make it a club record 10th league win in succession should they secure another three points at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.
The defender Ignasi Miquel could feature despite a recent thigh strain, as could Chris Wood, who has struggled with a tight hamstring in recent weeks.
Leicester, though, have been imperious of late. Sweeping past fellow promotion-hopefuls Derby County 4-1 proved the zenith of a domineering January, which also provided grit alongside the glitter. There were tough wins at Leeds and Birmingham whereas last weekend's 1-0 victory at Bournemouth was secured by a late goal from Kevin Phillips, his first effort for the club.
It has been a period in which Leicester have consolidated their position at the summit of the Championship, with Pearson being named the division's manager of the month for January.
Barring a monumental capitulation Leicester will be a top-flight side in little over three months' time. Hindsight can be a wonderful thing in football but, given the rise to prominence of a number of players in the squad this season and the improved health at the club overall, the argument that not being promoted last term has proved beneficial in the long term holds a certain credence.
The emergence of Jamie Vardy, signed by Leicester in 2012, has possibly been the biggest positive, the striker with 10 goals to his name this year having joined from Fleetwood for £1m.
Liam Moore, a 21-year-old centre-half, has also performed well alongside Wes Morgan in defence and it is questionable whether either player would have been given the same opportunity had City beaten Watford last May and gone on to beat Crystal Palace in the play-off final.
"I think we've got better in all areas [this season] if I'm totally honest," said Pearson, below, this week. "You look at the central midfield positions for instance; if we play with a two in there we are very fortunate to have four very, very good players for those two places.
"I think competition in itself is healthy. Clearly we've got two players who are probably not enjoying not playing but they are very supportive of the players playing in there and, with the number of games that we have left, we're going to need everybody."
Off the pitch there has also been good news this season, with Leicester's owner, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, effectively wiping out their £103m debt in December by swapping the club's liabilities for shares in City, making it easier for the Foxes to comply with financial fair play.
However, Pearson insists there is still work to be done. He said: "We have to continue to build on the standards that we've set, which won't be easy, but we're in a situation where the season has gone well so far, but whenever you're in a good position, people want to shoot you down." Reported by guardian.co.uk 33 minutes ago.
For Leicester City Anthony Knockaert's celebration at Vicarage Road in December was an exercise in exorcism. Knockaert, after scoring in the second half of a comfortable 3-0 victory, ran to the travelling supporters as if the biggest of burdens had been disposed of, relief and joy etched on his face in equal measure.
His reaction was no surprise. Leicester, who will be reunited with Watford on Saturday in the Championship, were one kick away from a play-off final and a shot at promotion to the Premier League, only for Manuel Almunia to save Knockaert's penalty in the dying seconds. Watford, with their campaign seemingly at an end, then countered to score in the most dramatic of finishes.
Leicester were inconsolable, yet now, having kept Nigel Pearson at the helm, are having a season in the sun. From annus horribilis to annus mirabilis the Foxes are currently 10 points clear at the top of the table and 13 ahead of Burnley in third. This time around there will surely be no bitter denouement.
"If we'd have gone up last year you wonder if we would have gone straight back down," says Ian Bason, chairman of the Foxes Trust. "It wouldn't have been definite but this year we should go up as a much stronger unit for the experience some of the younger players have gained this season.
"We're only now about two points behind what we got for the whole of last season. We had a bad run this time last year but I can't see it happening at the moment."
Automatic promotion beckons for Leicester, who could make it a club record 10th league win in succession should they secure another three points at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.
The defender Ignasi Miquel could feature despite a recent thigh strain, as could Chris Wood, who has struggled with a tight hamstring in recent weeks.
Leicester, though, have been imperious of late. Sweeping past fellow promotion-hopefuls Derby County 4-1 proved the zenith of a domineering January, which also provided grit alongside the glitter. There were tough wins at Leeds and Birmingham whereas last weekend's 1-0 victory at Bournemouth was secured by a late goal from Kevin Phillips, his first effort for the club.
It has been a period in which Leicester have consolidated their position at the summit of the Championship, with Pearson being named the division's manager of the month for January.
Barring a monumental capitulation Leicester will be a top-flight side in little over three months' time. Hindsight can be a wonderful thing in football but, given the rise to prominence of a number of players in the squad this season and the improved health at the club overall, the argument that not being promoted last term has proved beneficial in the long term holds a certain credence.
The emergence of Jamie Vardy, signed by Leicester in 2012, has possibly been the biggest positive, the striker with 10 goals to his name this year having joined from Fleetwood for £1m.
Liam Moore, a 21-year-old centre-half, has also performed well alongside Wes Morgan in defence and it is questionable whether either player would have been given the same opportunity had City beaten Watford last May and gone on to beat Crystal Palace in the play-off final.
"I think we've got better in all areas [this season] if I'm totally honest," said Pearson, below, this week. "You look at the central midfield positions for instance; if we play with a two in there we are very fortunate to have four very, very good players for those two places.
"I think competition in itself is healthy. Clearly we've got two players who are probably not enjoying not playing but they are very supportive of the players playing in there and, with the number of games that we have left, we're going to need everybody."
Off the pitch there has also been good news this season, with Leicester's owner, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, effectively wiping out their £103m debt in December by swapping the club's liabilities for shares in City, making it easier for the Foxes to comply with financial fair play.
However, Pearson insists there is still work to be done. He said: "We have to continue to build on the standards that we've set, which won't be easy, but we're in a situation where the season has gone well so far, but whenever you're in a good position, people want to shoot you down." Reported by guardian.co.uk 33 minutes ago.