Premier League was back at King Power and the team was set up in a 4-3-3 formation. One change from the FA Community Shield clash v. Man City, Ryan Bertrand could not play due to a positive Covid-19 test, Luke Thomas slotted in at the left back position, and it took of well with Leicester having the pressure.
Leicester did press Wolves back, but it wasn’t before the 41st minute that magic striked, a great assist and pre-goal work from Ricardo Pereira, and when the ball was sent into the penalty area, Jamie Vardy set his foot on hit and in it went behind the Wolves goalkeeper.
Embed from Getty ImagesNot much to add to the first half as it was a bit of a battle in midfield and not really resulted in many big chances. It looked steady and controlled from a Leicester point of view, with little to do for Kasper Schmeichel, something that changed more in the 2nd half.
Leicester as we thought would go into the 2nd half and try to lure Wolves a bit further up the field and it also opended up their defence a bit more, with Jamie Vardy having a couple of opportunities to score, but shots went wide and it was instead Wolves that came ever so close.
Caglar Soyuncu had a grand game and blocked many Wolves chances, especially Traore had his opportunities and showed his physical strenght and how strong this forward can be, Daniel Amartey might have to take a few more sessions in the gym to be able to hold such a player silent.
Embed from Getty ImagesJannik Vestergaard made his Leicester debut early in the 2nd half coming on for Perez, with also Soumare seeing his as well, replacing James Maddison, and also Iheanacho coming on a bit later, all of them much involved towards the end. Vestergaard had a good 30 minutes looking sharp with a number of great passes to midfielders, and Kelechi did his and could have with a bit of better work together with Vardy given Leicester 2-0.
Embed from Getty ImagesSoumare had a bit of a struggle with the pace at time and probably needs more time to adapt to the pace of the league, but again he did his job and helped the team to achieve to win the first game of the season.
Wolves really pressed on, but especially Soyuncu and Vestergaard did a grand job, blocking many chances and stopping balls before it came to Schmeichel, but it could have ended very different if Traore had been better in his finishing.
To have the fans back might have given that extra boost to get this win over the line, as Wolves really deserved at least a draw with a lot of blown chances, they looked hard to beat down, though that single goal from Vardy and his great work ethic.
This was that day when you just digged in and worked hard to get what you were after and three points are always what will be the aim and they are on board, always fantastic to win that first game of the season.
A great start against a Wolves team that surprised and that will pick up a lot of points this season, they are looking better and we will see what type of caliber their new manager Bruno Lage is made of, Wolves looked sharp.
- Positives
- Jamie Vardy scoring the winner, just brilliant
- Jannik Vestergaard coming on and making his PL debut for Leicester
- 3 points, a goal scored, clean sheet and just getting the season started with a win
- Caglar Soyuncu, great game, great work, fantastic blocks
- Negatives:
- James Maddison, hopefully not injured again, not his best performance
- Midfield area must deliver better
- Giving Wolves too much freedom to create
Player Ratings: Schmeichel 6, Pereira 7, Amartey 6, Soyuncu 7, Thomas 6, Maddison 5, Nididi 6, Tielemans 7, Barnes 6, Vardy 8, Perez 6, Subs: Vestergaard 7, Soumare 6, Iheanacho
Embed from Getty Images- Leicester City, Man of the Match
- Jamie Vardy
Match Stats (H/A):
- Possession: 56 / 44
- Corners: 5 / 4
- Shots on target: 5 / 3
- Fouls: 6 / 10
TCF - FILBERT WAY 
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