Slimani at the double as Leicester’s fringe players seize moment
This was a flexing of Leicester’s Premier League muscles that Sheffield United could not contend with, sweeping past their Championship opponents, 4-1 in the second round of the Carabao Cup.
With both managers administering eight changes to their starting XI’S, Leicester’s fringe players were just too good for those holding similar stations in Chris Wilder’s side.
Once Demarai Gray had registered the tie’s opening goal in the 52nd minute, there was a sharp acceleration to ease away from the hosts. Islam Slimani, a £29million acquisition from Sporting Lisbon last summer, was symbolic of the gulf in class and finance – in comparison his opposite number, Ched Evans, starting a game for the Blades for the first time since 2012, was a £500,000 purchase in May.
Slimani dashed any United hopes of a revival in devastating four minute period, rounding Jake Eastwood for his first and then finding space to tap in Gray’s superb delivery for his second.
“Islam needed the game time and centre-forwards will be judged on the goals as well as the team ethic and he’s done his chances no harm,” said the Leicester manager, Craig Shakespeare. “It was about not undervaluing the cup but I think it was important to give the fringe players, or the players who haven’t played, some game time. When you do that you are hoping that they respond in the right way in terms of their own individual performance, but more importantly, collectively in terms of the team.”
It marked the first time the Algerian had scored twice in Leicester colours since last September, against Burnley. Yet he is not assured of being given further opportunities, with his future thought to be away from the East Midlands, if the Foxes are able to recoup a significant proportion of the fee.
“He’s here. At the moment there is a lot of speculation about a lot of players but until we get an offer that’s accepted, we carry on as normal,” Shakespeare added.
Gray, another of those on the periphery, was the catalyst to the damage inflicted upon the Blades, though Wilder was infuriated by the “naivety” his team displayed after the interval. “From us being in a great position where we should be scoring, within five seconds Demarai Gray has took it up the pitch and they are a goal ahead,” he said.
“I am not going to pat my players on the back for giving everything and going to the end because I demand that and they know that.”
Despite his frustration, Wilder reserved some praise for David Brooks, the player of the tournament in Toulon, when England’s U20’s triumphed in the summer.
In a display that was brimming with promise, Brooks suggested he was now ready for regular Championship outings.
“We watched him through the summer, got him back in with us and he’s been first class ever since,” Wilder said. “He’s been knocking on the door to start and I just need to make sure now that I manage the boy correctly but he’s shown that he has the ability to pick a pass out, to go past people and the ability to excite myself, the coaching staff and our supporters.”
Wilder’s team did manage a goal, when Caolan Lavery deceived Ben Hamer but Ahmed Musa’s fourth goal in the dying seconds sealed a comfortable evening for Leicester. Sheffield United