LEICESTER City’s dramatic play-off failure against Watford in May marked the end of a disappointing year for one of the club’s most famous supporters.

Just 12 months after finishing second last in the Eurovision Song Contest, Engelbert Humperdinck saw the Foxes hit all the wrong notes at Vicarage Road.

The legendary singer, who came 25th out of 26 with 12 points in Azerbaijan, moved to Leicester as a child and was awarded the Freedom of the City in 2009.

Had the Foxes not imploded dur-ing the second half of last season, winning only three of their final 17 games, they almost certainly would have avoided the lottery.

In the top five from the end of September until mid-March, Leicester had been three points clear in second at the end of January following five wins on the trot.

The club – which has spent only one season outside of the top two tiers – eventually squeezed into the final play-off berth following a last-day win at Nottingham Forest, edging out Bolton on goal difference.

David Nugent’s goal at the King Power Stadium handed Leicester a first-leg advantage over the Hornets, a lead cancelled out by Matej Vydra at Vicarage Road.

Nugent then headed the Foxes back in front with Vydra again levelling before one of the most remarkable chapters in play-off history unfolded.

A second leg of drama, tension and excitement looked set to end in Leicester’s favour when they were awarded a debatable penalty in injury-time. But after Manuel Almunia had saved Anthony Knockaert’s spot-kick, Watford counter-attacked and netted the winner through Troy Deeney to seal an extraordinary semi-final.

It brought a disappointing end to a campaign which had seen goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and defender Wes Morgan both named in the Championship team of the season. For Leicester supporters, it was another hard luck story, the club having been FA Cup runners-up four times, a tournament record for the most defeats in the final without having won the competition.

Although wealthy Thai businessman and King Power Group chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was unable to invest heavily in the squad over the summer due to financial fair play, Leicester have made a promising start. With much the same personnel as last season, Leicester are currently third in the Championship and boast the second best home record in the division with five wins and a draw from their first six games.

Since opening their King Power fixtures with a 0-0 draw against Leeds, Nigel Pearson’s men have beaten Birmingham (3-2), Wigan (2-0), Blackburn (2-1), Barnsley (2-1) and Huddersfield (2-1).