Leicester need FA Cup replay win to boost confidence ahead of Swansea, insists Danny Simpson

Leicester City’s situation in the league has now become so alarming that it is completely consuming the minds of everyone at the club, but Danny Simpson doesn’t think that should mean they treat Wednesday’s FA Cup fourth-round replay against Derby County lightly. By contrast, the title-winning full-back actually thinks that match at the King Power Stadium could be crucial to the champions’ survival battle, as it could give them the win and confidence boost they so badly need.

Leicester lie 16th in the table and just two points above the relegation zone, after their latest defeat - Sunday’s 3-0 loss to Manchester United - left them still without a single league win or goal in 2017.

While acknowledging that this season has been even harder than expected after winning the title, and that they have conceded goals they shouldn’t have, Simpson feels the first 40 minutes of the United match showed that the side aren’t too far off and only need a few things to go their way. A win would greatly help, especially since they travel to fellow strugglers Swansea City on Sunday.

“Sunday is big, I get that, but I want to play Wednesday, we need a win,” Simpson said. “I know it is not the league but we need a win.

“Maybe Wednesday can help with our confidence, it is a big game. I don't think you should write it off because of what is going on in the league. It is a game and a football match and you want to win games. [Manchester] United are a good team but maybe Wednesday is what we need at home against Derby to kick us on.

“Wednesday is massive for us at home to put in a good performance and progress in that cup into the next round and give us and the fans a lift for Sunday.”

Asked whether he thinks Claudio Ranieri should play a full team against Derby, Simpson said it was the manager’s choice, and also re-iterated that the Leicester team remain behind him.

“It is up to him. It his decision whether some people need a rest , whether some people want to keep playing. Whoever plays I think it is a game we can progress and give us a bit of confidence.

“Because of our situation, that [the speculation] is the papers trying to stir the pot. Look at the performance [against United], up until 42 minutes we were solid, we were good, everyone was fighting. You can see from the performance on the pitch the lads are trying and that is that.

“We need fight, spirit, luck,” Simpson said. “We haven’t had that but we can’t keep saying that. We are conceding goals we don’t normally concede, if we are honest with that.

“We knew it weren’t going to be like last season but it is tougher than we thought. The good thing is we have been here before [in the 2014-15 relegation battle], we have been here two years ago. The majority of the squad were here two years ago. In that respect we have experience in that. The players who were here then can help some of the other lads though, and we will pull together.”