MARESCA BANS DIRECT ACTION
Comeback win after Foxes ignore pleas to go long from fed-up fans
ENZO MARESCA insists Leicester will not abandon their patient passing game in their bid for promotion despite frustrating their supporters.
The Foxes’ 14-point mid-February advantage over third place evaporated after a run of just one victory in six games.
Fans became disgruntled with their side for refusing to change their style and go more direct when they fell a goal behind to Norwich yesterday.
But Maresca later said: “That will not happen while I’m still here.”
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Stephy Mavididi inspired this comeback with a goal and an assist apiece before Jamie Vardy killed the game off in stoppage time.
Maresca said: “The players are human and so am I.We have emotions and enjoyed the moment. I’m very happy in this moment. But I won’t have a beer tonight – just a still water!”
Leicester had showed all their recent nerves as Patson Daka rounded Angus Gunn but failed to score before Harry Winks’ wayward shot.
Norwich, who lost defender Jacob Sorensen after 10 minutes, then snatched the lead against the run of play on 20 minutes.
Marcelino Nunez’s low corner caught the Foxes off guard and Gabriel Sara netted from very close range.
Maresca’s men kept their cool despite the frustrations of the crowd and were deservedly level on 33 minutes as Dewsbury-Hall nodded in after Mavididi had headed backWilfred Ndidi’s cross.
The Foxes kept calm early in the second half and went ahead on 61 minutes as Mavididi beat Jack Stacey from Dewsbury-Hall’s composed pass and slotted home.
Norwich fans thought they were level as Stacey shot into the side netting from a rare attack.
But there were to be no worries for Leicester and the joy was evident as Vardy scored three minutes into stoppage time. Winks’ deflected effort fell perfectly to the former England striker who could not miss as he claimed his 16th goal of the season. This ended a run of three straight wins for Norwich, who host Ipswich in the derby on Saturday.
Head coach David Wagner said: “We should have competed more in ball possession. We will quickly put this to bed. Saturday is huge – it’s up to me to ensure everyone has the fire in their belly for that.”
LEICESTER (4-3-3): Hermansen 6; Pereira 6 (Choudhury 85), Faes 7, Vestergaard 6, Doyle 7; Ndidi 7 (Praet 85), Winks 7, Dewsbury-Hall 8; Fatawu 7 (Justin 88), Daka 5 (Vardy 77), Mavididi 8 (Akgun 89). Goals: Dewsbury-Hall 33, Mavididi 61, Vardy 90.
NORWICH (4-2-3-1): Gunn 6; Stacey 5, Sorensen 5 (Duffy 10, 6), Gibson 6, McCallum 5; Nunez 7 (Gibbs 66, 5), McLean 7; Sara 7, Barnes 5 (Fassnacht 66, 5), Sainz 6; Sargent 6. Goal: Sara 20.