LEICESTER CITY 3 STOKE CITY 0
Report by Paul Weston
It was a crucial fixture against the giants of Stoke City. After the slightly disappointing performance against Villa there had followed an equally disappointing performance by our second string players against Spurs in the Cup, although at least Ben Chilwell had looked a real prospect for the future.
This was the acid test for the rest of the league season ahead and Ranieri selected our expected first team, with Okazaki partnering Vardy upfront with Ulloa on the bench.
The first half started quite cautiously from both sides. City were, thank goodness, pressing higher up the pitch, but even so Stoke started with quite a lot of possession of the ball. Very early on Shawcross for Stoke pulled up with an injury and was replaced by Wilson. Stoke therefore lost their captain and Wilson turned out to be a rather inferior replacement on which City capitalised.
Albrighton frustratingly kept sending crosses from the left into the centre where we seemed to have too few forwards and which were easily headed out by the much taller Stoke defence. Stoke meanwhile seemed to be set up for a draw, with their minds on the League Cup match to come in the following week.
It looked to be a tough match ahead with City being tested in how to break down a hard muscular side. At last Albrighton got in a low cross which Vardy turned towards goal but was well saved by the keeper. Okazaki blasted over when he had a good chance but shot too hastily.
City gradually built up the pressure, although often the last pass was misplaced. You had the feeling that the team were starting to get back to where they were before Christmas. Then City won a series of corners, all taken in slightly different ways. The last one in the 42nd minute was headed out to Danny Drinkwater who fizzed a low shot back into the goal, aided by a slight deflection.
1-0 to City and a first goal in the Premiership for Drinkwater! It was a just reward for a good performance by the team who had grown into the match. Stoke had been limited to zero shots on goal thanks to our rock solid defence.
Stoke could have easily undeservedly equalised early into the second half when Schmeichel saved Joselu’s header. However, City continued to press with Kante absolutely everywhere breaking up play and keeping the momentum going.
The moment everyone had been waiting for arrived when, from a delightful through ball from Drinkwater, Vardy outpaced Wilson, rounded the keeper and slotted in from a narrow angle. It was Jamie Vardy back to his very best. 2-0 to City and we could start to relax and even laugh at Robert Huth’s hopeless free kick routine! I would stick to defending if I were you, Robert!
Okazaki was injured and replaced by Ulloa, who had played poorly against Spurs I thought. City continued to press and looked really dangerous on the break with Mahrez seemingly gaining in confidence. It was Vardy again who set up Mahrez, who with an outrageous piece of skill beat his man and then hit his shot across the goalkeeper for Ulloa to poke in for a goal that will be good for his confidence too. 3-0 to City and a well-deserved victory.
There were so many good things about City’s performance in this match. Everyone played well and I cannot remember a match when we gave the opposition so few chances. It was good to see some different routines- especially when we left three up front when we were defending a corner. It was a great success and often led to City on the attack very quickly from defence.
And so we are still, amazingly, top of the league and three points clear. The so-called top teams continue to stumble and it looks like we have overcome our blip. We now face three key matches- Liverpool, Man City and Arsenal. Who knows what the future holds but it’s just great to be a City fan!
Leicester: Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs, Mahrez, Kante, Drinkwater, Albrighton (Gray 88), Okazaki (Ulloa 62), Vardy. Subs not used: King, Dyer, Wasilewski, Schwarzer, Inler
Stoke: Butland, Johnson, Shawcross (Wilson 30), Wollscheid, Pieters, Whelan, Afellay, Walters, Shaqiri (Crouch 79), Diouf (Odemwingie 71), Joselu. Subs not used: van Ginkel, Adam, Krkic, Haugaard
Attendance: 32,018 Referee: Mike Dean
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation