Leicester 2 - 0 Stoke

Leicester 2 - 0 Stoke

Leicester City power to fourth straight league win under Craig Shakespeare

Home team scorers
Onyinye Ndidi 25
Jamie Vardy 47

Fireworks in the stadium before kickoff marked the imminent birthday of the Leicester City chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, but they were nothing compared to the rocket launched in the 25th minute by Wilfred Ndidi. The Nigerian midfielder reached a landmark of his own by blasting a ferocious long-range shot into the net to claim his first Premier League goal and give his team a lead over Stoke City that they never looked like losing. Jamie Vardy confirmed the victory in the second half by netting with a fine volley.

Further vindication was perhaps the gift desired most by Srivaddhanaprabha, who turns 59 on Tuesday, and a fifth win from five matches since Craig Shakespeare assumed managerial duties amounts to a strong endorsement of the chairman’s decision to sack Claudio Ranieri in February.

This was a day when anyone doubting Leicester was made to look foolish. Twenty-four minutes had elapsed when Stoke fans struck up a chant of “Champions of England – you’re having a laugh,” whereupon Ndidi wiped the smile off their faces in the most satisfying way. After receiving a pass from Danny Simpson, the 20-year-old took one touch to set himself up for a shot that seemed ill-advised and then thrashed the ball into the top corner from 25 yards. He hit it with such power that by the time Stoke goalkeeper Lee Grant had finished diving, Ndidi was already cupping his ears to savour the cheers of Leicester fans and the stunned silence of the visitors. Shut-ups have seldom been more spectacular.

In truth the Stoke supporters had been jeering the hosts merely in the name of terrace repartee rather than to denounce Leicester’s performance, as the champions had been the superior side in a bright first 25 minutes. Demarai Gray, who might not have started if Marc Albrighton had been fit, caused regular trouble down the wings with his speed and trickery, even after Ryan Shawcross upended him with a late tackle in the 17th minute. The free-kick following that foul almost led to a goal, Christian Fuchs’ delivery provoking a goalmouth scramble and forcing Erik Pieters to head the ball away in a panic before Glen Johnson intervened to stop Vardy from converting from close range.

It was a lively enough game even if Stoke struggled to bring a save from Kasper Schmeichel. With Wes Morgan missing because of back trouble, Yohan Benalouane performed well in the heart of the home defence alongside Robert Huth, whose only moment of concern in the first half came when Saido Berahino complained to the referee about being caught off the ball by a flailing elbow. Referee Lee Mason saw nothing untoward. It was a frustrating afternoon for Berahino, who got paltry service from his team-mates and no space from his markers.

After Ndidi’s rocket, Leicester took flight. Shinji Okazaki went close with an overhead kick following a corner, his effort flying a yard over the bar. Then Riyad Mahrez tried to join in the fun with a devilish low shot from 20 yards. This time Grant’s dive was not in vain and the goalkeeper managed to tip the ball around the post.

If the interval came at an opportune time for Stoke, they did not seem to make wise use of it as less than two minutes after the resumption they fell further behind. Their problem began with another incursion by Gray, this time down the right, and it was aggravated when the winger laid the ball back to Simpson, who swept in a cross that caught Johnson dozing. There were no flies on Vardy, however, and the striker took advantage of the full-back’s negligence to wallop the ball into the net with a terrific volley from 12 yards.

That was the England striker’s sixth goals in his last eight matches in all competitions, a tally that reflects his rejuvenation since Shakespeare replaced Ranieri.

Leicester’s luck has also changed for the better. In the 70th minute Marko Arnautovic had a goal disallowed after being wrongly flagged for offside. Then, in the last minute, Peter Crouch somehow headed wide from three yards after sharp work by Mame Biram Diouf .

Leicester are not mathematically safe from relegation but no one is seriously talking any more about them becoming the first reigning champions since 1938 to drop out of the top flight. Instead Leicester helped Shakespeare create a small piece of history of another sort, as this victory made him the first British manager in the Premier League era to win his first four league matches in charge. Add in that triumph over Sevilla in the Champions League and all that wailing about the dismissal of Ranieri seems like much ado about nothing.

Guardian