Danny Drinkwater, Jamie Vardy and Leonardo Ulloa scored as Leicester beat Stoke to return to the top of the league.
Jamie Vardy was on the score-sheet as Leicester City moved to the top of the league with a 3-0 victory over Stoke City at the Kings Power Stadium.
The Englishman ended his seven-game goal drought to help his
side secure an excellent result over top-six contenders Stoke.
Danny Drinkwater opened the scoring three minutes before the
half-time whistle after the visitors only partially cleared a corner. It
was his first ever goal in the Premier League.
Leicester were always on top and they doubled their advantage on
66 minutes when Vardy found space behind the Stoke defence to round
Jack Butland and slide the ball into an empty net.
Substitute Leonardo Ulloa completed the scoring on a wonderful day for Claudio Ranieri’s charges with just three minutes to play.
There’s still a long way to go in this Premier League campaign
but even the most sceptical fan must now admit Leicester are genuine
contenders for the title.
All eyes will be on the Emirates tomorrow where Arsenal need a win over Chelsea
to leapfrog Leicester but for now the Foxes can enjoy their place three
points ahead at the top of the Premier League. They are also 10 points
ahead of fifth place after Manchester United suffered a defeat to Southampton.
Meanwhile it was a disappointing way for Mark Hughes to mark his 500th game in management and a first-half injury to integral centre-back Ryan Shawcross made matters worse for the Potters who drop to ninth position.
KEY MOMENTS
17’ - CHANCE! Vardy comes close to opening the scoring but is denied by a great stop from Butland. It was Albrighton
who found the forward in the penalty area whose snap-shot was well
parried by the Stoke goalkeeper before the danger is cleared.
22’ – INJURY! Shawcross is down once again and he's going to be replaced. This is a big blow for Stoke.
42’ - GOAL: Leicester 1-0 Stoke! A corner is
played into the penalty area and Stoke can only clear it as far as
Drinkwater on the edge of the area - the midfielder strikes it low and
hard and it somehow finds its way past Butland into the bottom corner!
60’ - SAVE! Johnston sends a cross into the
penalty area which meets the head Joselu of who can only direct his
header straight at goal and Schmeichel makes a great stop!
66’ - GOAL: Leicester 2-0 Stoke! A long pass
finds Vardy behind the away defence and he races through one-on-one,
coolly rounds Butland before finding the back of an empty net!
87’ - GOAL: Leicester 3-0 Stoke City! The
hosts have their third and it's no more than they deserve. Mahrez
wriggles his way through the penalty area before squaring a pass to
Ulloa who is left with a simple tap-in.
KEY STATS
Leicester City have won nine and lost just one of their last 14 Barclays Premier League home matches. .
No side has seen as few goals scored in their Premier League games so far in 2015-16 than Stoke City (46).
Jamie Vardy scored his first goal since 14 December
2015 ending his scoring drought of seven matches in all competitions. He
is now the outright topscorer surpassing Romelu Lukaku on 16 goals.
Leicester equalled Arsenal with most opening goals in this PL season (14).
TALKING POINT
Clinical Leicester are here to stay – This
one was for anyone who doesn’t believe Leicester are genuine title
contenders. Stoke came into this game in good form, they had won three
of their five previous matches, but Ranieri’s side made them look like
strangers. Leicester had struggled in attack during Vardy’s drought but
he’s back amongst the goals and now the Foxes can really begin to
dream. After all, they are now 10 points ahead of fifth place.
MAN OF THE MATCH
N’Golo Kante (Leicester City) – Played
a valuable role in Leicester’s victory as he supplied the front line
with multiple opportunities and won the ball back for his side
throughout.
PLAYER RATINGS
Leicester City: Schmeichel 7; Simpson 7 , Morgan 7, Huth 6, Fuchs 7; Mahrez 8, Drinkwater 8, Kante 9, Albrighton 7; Okazaki 7, Vardy 8. Subs: Gray N/A, Ulloa 7.
Stoke City: Butland 7; Pieters 7, Wollschied 6, Shawcross N/A, Johnson 6; Afellay 5, Whelan 5; Diouf 5, Joselu 6, Shaqiri 7; Walters 6. Subs: Odemwingie 5, Wilson 6, Crouch 5.
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