Dak of the net!
PATSON SHINES FOR FIVE-STAR FOXES
LEICESTER City boss Enzo Maresca hopes this dominant display will help convince the doubters that he is the man to lead them back to the Premier League.
A frustrated Maresca said in midweek he would walk away from the club if he felt his brand of football was not wanted.
The Italian’s approach to the game has not always been appreciated by the King Power Stadium fans.
But if this display does not change their minds – nothing will, as Leicester turned on the style to inflict Stoke’s worst home defeat in 26 years.
It leaves the Foxes 11 points clear at the top of the Championship, with a return to the top flight all but certain.
And the reaction of the travelling Foxes fans gave Maresca all the reassurance he needed after his outburst following Tuesday’s win over Swansea.
They sang his name and unfurled a banner proclaiming, ‘In Enzo we trust’ at the final whistle, after thousands of frustrated Stoke fans had left the stadium.
Maresca said: “I’ve always said our fans are unbelievable but at home, some are probably not convinced. It doesn’t matter, it’s closed now. Perhaps this result will help
“I don’t like the players being hurt, I see how much effort they put in to trying to win promotion. The reason we won like that was the opposition played exactly how we expected.”
They were in control throughout against a Stoke side who have not won a Championship game at home since October – a run which has not improved despite appointing a new manager in Steven Schumacher in December.
Maresca’s side dominated the early stages and went ahead after 27 minutes when Kiernan
Dewsbury-hall forced his way past two challenges and crossed for Abdul Fatawu, who headed the ball across the face of goal for Daka to score.
Kasey Mcateer’s 20-yard shot took a vicious deflection off Ben Wilmot to make it 2-0.
Leicester made it three when Daka converted a 64th-minute penalty after Wout Faes was bundled over by Jordan Thompson.
Substitute Jamie Vardy scored the fourth before netting a stoppage-time penalty.
Schumacher said: “We weren’t aggressive enough and didn’t have belief. Leicester were too good, but we made it easy for them.” STOKE: Bonham 6; Gooch 4 (Lowe (57) 6), Rose 4, Wilmot 4, Thompson 4; Cundle 5, Pearson 4 (Ennis (45) 6), Burger 5; Hoever 4 (Mcnally, (71) 4), Leris 5 (Bae (45) 5), Campbell 4 (Vidigal, (57) 5) LEICESTER: Hermansen 6; Faes 8, Vestergaard 6 (Nelson (45) 8), Doyle 8; Pereira (Choudhury (84) 8), Winks 9, Dewsbury-hall 8; Fatawu 8, Mcateer 6 (Praet (45) 8), Mavididi 7 (Justin, 70, 8), Daka 8 (Vardy (70) 8) STAR MAN: Harry Winks – The ex-spurs midfielder was at the heart of a dominant Leicester display.
Lewis Smith 5