Time Le Tiss hit the post

BORING, boring Puel? Really? After the Emperor Claudio came King Claude.

And if first impressions of Leicester’s French revolution prove accurate, an apology from Matt Le Tissier will be in the post before the season is out.

Southampton legend Le Tissier branded Claude Puel’s football at St Mary’s “dull” and “a bit boring”. But there was little to send pulse rates into retreat on his baptism at the King Power.

Puel (below) handed Demarai Gray – 11 Premier League starts in two years under previous regimes – a rare chance to shine, and the England Under-21 winger seized his opportunity with alacrity. Gray’s scintillating 50-yard run carved open Everton like the carcass of your Sunday roast for Jamie Vardy to score his sixth goal of the season.

Puel, who was given a warm reception by fans armed with their cardboard clappers before kick-off, deserves only credit for launching his era with such an emphatic first-half display – from which Everton had little hope of recovery.

This was a throwback to the best days of Claudio Ranieri, Vardy pestering and stinging defenders like an angry wasp and the back four standing firm when the kitchen sink arrived.

Gray claimed the second goal despite a wicked deflection off Jonjoe Kenny and grinned: “I’ve had to wait a long time for my opportunities but it’s a new start.”