Rodgers goes four it as fired-up Foxes blow Potters away
BRENDAN RODGERS is taking the FA Cup seriously, then.
Without a top-flight fixture in midweek, the Ulsterman charged headlong at this competition – and was rewarded with a show that underlined the Foxes’ lofty Premier League billing.
Leicester’s boss left his two James’s – Vardy and Maddison – at home.
But otherwise this was as strong a line-up as he could name.
And while others may be fielding below-par sides out of necessity or choice, there wasn’t a whiff that this tie was being his full attention.
Rodgers’ men have had plenty on their plate what with their Europa
League campaign – and he had every reason to follow the popular trend and send out 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, Ayoze Perez and Harvey Barnes, the Foxes handed the Potters a lesson.
Rodgers said: “If you look at the gaps in our fixtures, we don’t play 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 I could.
“This is a competition where you need a bit of luck and your best players to get through.
“I was very pleased as you could see the level as the team went through the gears.”
Despite the Potters claiming two top-flight scalps in the Carabao Cup this term – Wolves and Aston Villa – Michael O’Neill’s men were given the runaround.
And as the Potters chief said: “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.
“Even without Maddison and Vardy they still have really good players.”
Sam Vokes lifted a close-range effort over the bar 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 before curling home a beauty.
They 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 on to his left foot to fire home.
Dennis Praet and Thomas Castagne combined to leave Ayoze Perez to sidefoot the third with little more than 10 minutes to go.
And Barnes rammed home his ninth of the season to round off a very disciplined and impressive show.
STOKE: Bursik 6, Souttar 6, Shawcross 6, Batth 5, (Matondo
(65th) 5)
Smith 5, (Collins (65th) 5) Mikel 4, Clucas 6, Allen 5, McClean 4, (Thompson
(65th) 5) Brown 5,
Vokes 5
Schmeichel 6, Justin
8, Fofana 7, (Soyuncu
79th) Evans 7, Castagne 7, Ndidi 7, Praet 6, (Mendy 90th) Tielemans 7, Albrighton 7, Barnes 7, (Iheanacho 81st) Perez 7