Five minutes before the interval, and just moments before Femi Azeez netted the game’s only goal, a loose ball fell kindly to Abdul Fatawu, who drove forward towards the Millwall penalty area.
The Leicester City winger’s acceleration instantly removed a couple of defenders from the equation. It was a three-on-three situation, with Aaron Ramsey and Jeremy Monga both available in space to his left.
Monga, in particular, was pleading for the pass. Fatawu opted to ignore him, instead attempting a shot from 25 yards. His effort was poorly struck, slicing off target and rolling harmlessly out for a goal kick.
That single moment poses a dilemma for City. At the time, it looked like a questionable decision from Fatawu. Given how the match ultimately unfolded, it appeared even more costly.
Fatawu’s choice to shoot rather than pick out Monga felt pivotal. City could have fashioned a far greater scoring opportunity, and if they had gone ahead, the entire rhythm of the contest might have changed.
However, that perspective might only seem valid because his strike was off the mark. When he cut inside and delivered brilliant finishes against Charlton and Swansea, nobody questioned his judgment.
So is that the compromise Leicester must live with? To enjoy the stunning, match-winning goals Fatawu provides, must they also accept the occasional wild or wasted attempt?
Fatawu has registered 37 shots this campaign — only Coventry’s Brandon Thomas-Asante, the Championship’s leading scorer, has attempted more.
With three goals, Fatawu currently stands as City’s top scorer. Yet across the division, he ranks joint-25th, which suggests Leicester might not be maximizing the return from his numerous efforts on goal.
Still, few players in the league — if any — can produce such spectacular strikes. The evidence, stretching beyond this season, shows he converts from 25 yards out more frequently than most.
Indeed, his nine Championship goals for Leicester have come from an expected goals total of 6.4. That could mean he’s outperforming expectation — or simply that he’s a superior finisher compared to the average player.
Those goals against Charlton and Swansea effectively won City the games. Without Fatawu’s willingness to shoot from range, Leicester would be four points worse off — a drop that would place them deep in the lower half of the table.
As for Marti Cifuentes, the manager insists decision-making outweighs raw technical skill, and he believes Fatawu can be coached into making smarter calls.
“I think it is about coaching,” Cifuentes said. “Football is about decision-making. It’s not just about speed and technique. The most important skill is decision-making.
“Sometimes it might be a very good decision to shoot from distance. Sometimes it can be not the best decision. But I’m not here to blame. I’m here to help the players. I’m here to help them to be better. That’s my job to coach them to take better decisions.”
It’s a delicate balance for both City and Cifuentes. Fatawu’s shooting ability remains one of Leicester’s most potent weapons — responsible for many of this season’s standout moments.
But if another key chance goes begging because he opts to shoot rather than pass, then his approach might need refining. Perhaps the best solution is for Leicester to start crafting clearer chances in the box, so that Fatawu’s long-range efforts feel less like missed opportunities and more like natural flashes of brilliance.