There were eerie and worrying similarities between the final half-hour of Leicester City’s 2-0 defeat to Blackburn and their worst days from last season.

During the bleak late winter under Ruud van Nistelrooy in which City endured their abysmal record-setting run of losses and goalless matches, there were more than a handful of games where they went behind and accepted their fate.

City would concede and then play as if they were powerless to avoid defeat, showing little urgency, spirit and attacking intent. They let relegation pull them in without much of a fight.

Perhaps that mentality has become embedded in the group, or even within the roots of the club, when the times get tough.

Because 2-0 down at home and staring at a third straight defeat, City mustered just two shots in 30 minutes, the second of those coming 20 seconds before the final whistle, when Blackburn knew victory was...