RODGERS’ FOXES HIT TOP SPOT
Praet makes sure Rodgers’ men go top
LEICESTER have that top- ofthe- table feeling once again after Dennis Praet’s thumping shot sealed victory.
It is just like 2016 all over again – well, for now at least – as the Foxes look down on the chasing pack.
That was when they pulled off the unlikeliest title win of all time to famously defy their 5,000- 1 odds.
It is nice to dream again and Praet’s sizzler 11 minutes from time made it two wins from two and saw them skip above Everton on goal difference.
But former striker Chris Wood almost stopped it happening with a late shot that bounced out off the inside of the post. When he fired Burnley into an early lead and it was called for a VAR ruling, Wood must have feared lightning would strike twice.
It was at the King Power almost 12 months ago that he had a controversial late ‘ equaliser’ cancelled out in a 2- 1 defeat, after he was adjudged to have tripped defender Jonny Evans s on the way to scoring.
This time the e question was whether r he handled the ball on n his way to netting.
Charlie Taylor’s s cross found the striker er at the far post. Wood, right, took it on his chest h as h he tried to get the ball under control but it appeared to take a second touch off his upper arm.
But, much to his relief, the big screen delivered the news he was waiting for and Burnley were 1- 0 up. Their joy, however, was short- lived as they were carved open for Harvey Barnes’ equaliser 10 minutes later.
Barnes started the move with a sweeping cross- field pass to Jamie Vardy, who twisted and put Taylor and Jimmy Dunne on their backsides. With his path to goal blocked, he slip slipped the ball to Ti Timothy Castagne w who rolled it across to Barnes.
Leicester got their n noses in front five min minutes into the secon second half and although C Castagne should get the credit, it really has to go against Burnley defender Erik Pieters’ name. Castagne struck the ball across goal, it hit substitute Pieters and ended up sending goalkeeper Nick Pope the wrong way. It got worse for Sean Dyche’s side when Leicester full- back James Justin plundered a third in the 62nd minute.
Justin was perfectly placed at the far post when Ayoze Perez flashed the ball across goal after a twisting run.
Burnley clawed one back when Dunne, making his Premier League debut, got on the end of a looping free- kick.
But Praet then thumped the ball into the roof of the net from 18 yards to end Burnley’s resolve and clinch the points for Brendan Rodgers’ men.