Daily Record

IT AIN’T MADD FOR FOXES TO DREAM

Brendan’s boys rise to the top as Frank flops again

- JAMES NURSEY AT KING POWER STADIUM

FRANK LAMPARD is under huge pressure at Chelsea after Leicester stormed top of the Premier League.

The expensivel­y-assembled Blues crashed to a fifth defeat in eight Premier League games after a dire first half.

But some Foxes fans will be dreaming about a repeat of their shock 2016 title triumph after hitting the summit again.

Wilfred Ndidi fired Leicester ahead with his first goal of the season in the sixth minute.

Chelsea were then initially awarded a penalty after Jonny Evans brought down Christian Pulisic but VAR ruled the foul was just outside the box.

James Maddison, who earlier hit the bar, swiftly made it 2-0 in the 41st minute.

Defeat leaves Chelsea eighth and manager Lampard facing questions about his future after spending over £200million.

It was Brendan Rodgers’ first win as a manager over Chelsea. and the Foxes boss said: “They’re a hugely talented side with individual quality but as a team collective­ly we were excellent with a real threat.

“The players have won a lot of games this season against big opponents and you see a maturity in our performanc­es.”

Leicester had their noses in front early, capitalisi­ng on a disorganis­ed start from the Chelsea rearguard. Harvey Barnes floated over a cross that was bundled away for a corner.

And they were asleep when Maddison and Marc Albrighton worked it short, the latter it back towards the edge of the box. A swing and a miss from Barnes perhaps wrongfoote­d the Chelsea defence and there was little they could do with the finish, Ndidi’s left-foot half-volley flying in off the post.

The Foxes might have doubled their lead 10 minutes later, Maddison grazing the bar from distance.

Chelsea had a couple of chances to level, Reece James and Thiago Silva bringing blocks from Kasper Schmeichel.

The sense this was not to be their night was compounded shortly before half-time as a penalty was awarded when Evans clipped Pulisic but was downgraded by VAR to a freecuttin­g kick on the edge of the area. After Mason Mount’s effort sailed harmlessly over Leicester promptly turned the goal-kick into a quick counter-attack.

Albrighton’ long ball into Chelsea’s box saw Maddison finish past Edouard Mendy on the half-volley.

Lampard said: “The bare minimum is to run and sprint and cover ground – too many of our players didn’t do it.”

 ??  ?? KAIS AND LOWS No joy for Havertz or Chelsea who are well beaten by Leicester
FOX CLEVER Ndidi, below, gives Leicester the lead and Maddison, left and main pic, ensures there is no way back for Chelsea by netting a second goal
KAIS AND LOWS No joy for Havertz or Chelsea who are well beaten by Leicester FOX CLEVER Ndidi, below, gives Leicester the lead and Maddison, left and main pic, ensures there is no way back for Chelsea by netting a second goal
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