Pat on the back
MARESCA PRAISE AS FOXES HITMAN GRABS CHANCE
FORGOTTEN man Patson Daka came in from the cold as leaders Leicester put on a goal-scoring master class.
The £23million Zambian striker has been linked with a move away from the King Power in January after playing just once in the Championship this season.
But Foxes boss Enzo Maresca turned to the forward after injury and illness robbed him of Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho.
Daka, who scored five goals in three games for his country on recent international duty, grabbed the chance much to the delight of Maresca who admitted: “The situation has been a bit strange.
“Since day one his work is fantastic and he behaves fantastic but I only use one striker. We use Jimmy, we use Kele, Pat didn’t get minutes.
“He is not in the team for being bad. I say ‘Pat I am very sorry for the situation’ but he continues to work in the right way. Now we have Kele and Jimmy with a small problem.
“It was a chance for him and he took it. I am very happy for him. I told Pat before the game that it doesn’t matter if you play well or bad.
“I don’t expect you to play well, I can understand you have been out for three or four months. play free, relax and enjoy. Then we see.”
Daka scored the second of Leicester’s four-goal haul and claimed an assist for Wilfred Ndidi’s final word.
Stephy Mavididi started the rout from the penalty spot in the first half and also claimed the third after beating three defenders.
By the end it was men against boys, perhaps not surprisingly given that this time last year the Foxes were in the Premier League and Plymouth were in League One.
Winning an early penalty decision hardly helped the cause of the visitors.
The silky-skilled Mavididi drew the challenge from Julio Pleguezuelo and referee Sunny Singh Gill did not hesitate. Penalty converted.
There was some sloppiness in evidence after that but Plymouth – without an away win this season – missed a glorious chance to equalise when Mustapha Bundu charged one-on-one towards Mads Hermansen and the keeper blocked it.
Argyle boss Steven Schumacher admitted: “They are big moments, defining moments and we have to do better on those.
“I was pleased with a lot of aspects of how we played today. Effort and commitment from the players, was outstanding. The fans can see we’re giving our all.” LEICESTER: Hermansen 7; Choudhury 7, Faes 7, Vestergaard 6 (Nelson (80) 6), Justin 7; Winks 7, Ndidi 8 (Praet (68) 5), Dewsbury-hall 7 (Casadei (68) 5); Fatawu 8, Daka 8 (Cannon (62) 5), Mavididi 9 (Albrighton (62) 5) PLYMOUTH: Cooper 6; Randell 5 (Houghton (77) 5), Pleguezuelo 5, Gibson 5, Butcher 5; Miller 6 (Galloway (56) 5), Edwards 6, Azaz 6 (Cundle (65) 5); Wright 5, Bundu 5 (Hardie (56) 5), Whittaker 5 (Mumba (65) 5) STAR MAN: Stephy Mavididi - Attacking threat and some wonderful footwork earned him deserved ovation. REF: Sunny Singh Gill 7