We predicted a few changes in the line-up as Enzo Maresca gave starts to Cesare Casadei and Kelechi Iheanacho, leaving out Jamie Vardy and Wilfred Ndidi. It upset the balance a bit, but again a brilliant start for Leicester, taking the lead after just 12 minutes play.
A well passed corner from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall found James Justin and his header was just one taken out of the learning book, lovely and controlled as it went in behind Sunderland’s goalkeeper, Anthony Patterson.
Leicester continued to press, but Sunderland made it impossible to play out from the back as they pushed four to five players forward to stop the possession play of Leicester.
Leicester didn’t produce many clear chances, but one from Mavididi hit the post, nothing special other than that. Leicester struggled to challenge the Sunderland back four as it stood 1-0 at half time.
Leicester came out with a positive attitude 2nd half and could have put the game to bed when Kelechi Iheanacho hit the post with a very nice assisting header down from Casadei as he layed the ball on a platter to the Nigerian international, who again dissappointed when getting in the starting line-up.
Wout Faes made a bad tackle inside the penalty box on one occassion, luckily the referee didn’t see it, Southampton also had their luck when Mavididi was taken down, as well as trying to take Jannik Vestergaard out by pulling him in his shirt and also taking him down in the penalty box, so in the end it was probably an even affair regarding penalties not given.
Cesare Casadei was given a chance from start, but his cleverness in front of goal was not at all in place as the best player on the field, Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, saved his shots, as well as other attempts.
Jamie Vardy, Marc Albrighton, Hamza Choudhury and Patson Daka all got minutes, and luckily Leicester kept it safe until the end, though it was close to losing points with Sunderland showing grit and stamina during the full game and gave it a try to get something out of the afternoon.
Fantastic to have 12 wins from 13 games, this time it was a hard fight, but 3 points are 3 points.
- Positives
- James Justin scoring with a wonderful header
- Vestergaard vital in the end winning all headers
- Winks holding the midfield together and serving the forwards and wingers
- Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall again working hard
- Daka coming on, surely he will have a say going forward
- Keeping a clean sheet and holding the lead
- Negatives
- So many clear chances spoiled
- Yellow cards on Justin and Pereira
Player Ratings: Hermansen 7, Pereira 7, Faes 6, Vestergaard 7, Justin 7, Casadei 6, Winks 7, Dewsbury-Hall 6, Fatawu 6, Iheanacho 5, Mavididi 6, Subs: Choudhury, Albrighton, Daka, Vardy
- Leicester City, Man of the Match
- Mads Hermansen
Match Stats (H/A)
- Possession: 52 / 48
- Shots on Target: 5 / 3
- Corners: 5 / 5
- Fouls: 13 / 10
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