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Leicester are like 'dead men walking', says Chris Coleman

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Chris Coleman and Alan Smith discuss Leicester City's plight after the champions slipped to a fifth Premier League defeat in a row at Swansea

Leicester are like "dead men walking" in their battle to avoid relegation, according to Chris Coleman.

The Wales boss was in the Sky Sports studio to see the Foxes beaten 2-0 by relegation rivals Swansea on Nissan Super Sunday, a defeat that leaves them without a win or even a goal yet in the Premier League in 2017.

"I feel a bit sorry for Leicester, they're lacking so much confidence and are like dead men walking at the moment," he said. "As soon as [the first goal] went in there was only going to be one winner, confidence just oozed out of them.

"They're obviously a very honest bunch of people but sometimes you can be too honest. You need someone to cross the line a little bit. On the pitch or in training they need a spark from someone.

"They need to get back to what they were doing. Whatever made them [champions] last year, just scratch the surface on that and it will be enough for them to turn the corner."

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Swansea 2-0 Leicester

Despite their worrying performance against Swansea, Sky Sports pundit Alan Smith believes that Claudio Ranieri's heroics last season means he deserves the chance to lead them out of trouble.

"If the alarm bells weren't ringing before they certainly are after that against one of their relegation rivals," he said.

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"They've got to find something from somewhere and I think a change will come. It might be a few weeks down the line from here, because looking at that performance they don't look close to turning things around.

"What they have got to be is together. They don't need all those whispers of player discontent that undermines the manager. Ranieri performed miracles to lead them to the title and he deserves the chance to get them out of it."

Claudio Ranieri, Leicester manager, v Swansea
Image: Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri watches on as his team lose at Swansea

Coleman, meanwhile, admitted he was bemused by Leicester's form this season, but also backed Ranieri to keep the Foxes away from the drop between now and the end of season.

"Looking at Leicester from last year you wonder why they're doing so badly," he said. "The players in the dressing room have to step forward as well, it's Claudio who comes out and answers the questions.

"He's not going to come out and say he's not the man for the job or that he doesn't believe in his players. I'm sure he does believe in his players and I'm sure they believe in him. He's the same man and that's the same team from last year."

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