FOUR-GONE CONCLUSION
Rodgers going all out for cup success
BRENDAN Rodgers is taking the FA Cup seriously, then.
Without a top-flight fixture in midweek, the Ulsterman charged head first at this competition – and was rewarded with a show that underlined the Foxes’ lofty Premier League billing.
Leicester’s boss left his two stars – Jamie Vardy and James Maddison – at home to put up their feet.
But otherwise this was as strong a line-up as he could name. And while others may field below-par sides out of necessity or choice, there wasn’t a whiff this tie got anything less than full attention.
Rodgers’ men have had plenty on their plate with their Europa League campaign – and he had every reason to follow the popular trend and send a shadow squad. But he chose to buck the trend. Thanks to a superb opener from James Justin and second-half strikes from Marc Albrighton – his first goal in two years – and late efforts from Ayoze Perez and Harvey Barnes, the Foxes handed the Potters a lesson.
Rodgers ( below) said: “If If you look at the gaps s in fixtures, we don’t play ay for a week after this. .
“So, I didn’t feel this was a problem. We have a purpose in the competition. I wanted to do the best st I could but I felt these ese boys needed to play.
“This is a competition where you need a bit of luck and your best players to get through – and that’s what we did today
“I was very pleased because you could see the level as the team went through the gears. Once we got the goal, we were very good.” Despite the Potters claiming two top-flight scalps in the Carabao Cup this term – they dumped out Wolves and Aston Villa – Michael O’neill’s men got the runaround. As the Potters chief admitted: “We ran into a top side today, particularly in the second half. The second goal killed us and after that we were always going to be vulnerable to their quality. “To be honest, I didn’t exp expect Brendan to come and put out any other side than the one he did. Even without Maddison and Vardy they still have really good players. “And once we went behind in the game I felt it was always going to be a difficult task to pull it back.” Sam Vokes lifted a close-range effort over the bar after a quarter of the game – in what was the hosts’ only real worthwhile effort on Kasper Schmeichel’s goal all afternoon.
But that sparked Leicester into life. Justin somehow netted from the left flank, cutting past Tom Smith and Joe Allen with ease STOKE: Bursik 6, Souttar 6, Shawcross 6, Batth 5, (Matondo 65, 5), Smith 5, (Collins 65, 5), Mikel 4, Clucas 6, Allen 5, Mcclean 4, (Thompson 65, 5), Brown 5, Vokes 5. Unused subs: Nna Noukeu, Lindsay, Ince, Oakley-boothe, Verlinden, Cousins. LEICESTER: Schmeichel 6, Justin 8, Fofana 7, (Soyuncu 79), Evans 7, Castagne 7, Ndidi 7, Praet 6, ( Mendy 90), Tielemans 7, Albrighton 7, Barnes 7, (Iheanacho 81), Perez 7. Unused subs: Ward, Morgan, Amartey, Choudhury, Fuchs, Thomas. MAN OF THE MATCH: James Justin. Set the ball rolling with a wonderful strike. Bundle of energy for 90 minutes, and added an assist for good measure. REFEREE: Tony Harrington 7. before curling home a beauty. He is proving a real find.
The Foxes should have added to their lead before half-time as they made hay down both flanks but had to wait until just before the hour to effectively finish the tie.
Albrighton made his move behind Stoke’s static rearguard. Youri Tielemans spotted his run and the winger cut inside onto his left foot to fire home the second.
O’neill rang the changes but the pattern of the match remained the same, as Dennis Praet and Thomas Castagne combined to leave Ayoze Perez to sidefoot the third with little more than 10 minutes to go.
Stoke were still reeling from that when Justin charged down the left and Barnes rammed home his ninth of the season to round off a disciplined and impressive show.