Lukas treble makes it so easy for Monk
LUKAS JUTKIEWICZ hit the first hat-trick of his career, meaning the Blues did not miss their banned boss Garry Monk.
The Birmingham manager was serving a touchline ban for an outburst at Brentford but his mood was far better as his team ripped apart Rotherham.
Jutkiweicz is in stunning form on St Andrew’s soil, having also bagged two goals in City’s previous home game when they drew 2-2 against Ipswich.
Monk said: “Lukas is a nice guy and part of a great dressing room spirit.
“It was his first career hat-trick and there was a little celebration in the dressing room when he came in.
“He took the bandage off his head, we all gave him a round of applause.
“It wasn’t difficult for me, watching from the seats. We had things in place and it went to plan.”
Birmingham had been winless at home before this match but they were clinical on this occasion.
Paul Warne’s visitors played some encouraging football at stages but their weak squad were just not good enough. Rotherham have lost all SEVEN of their away games.
Discussing their horror run on the road, Warne said: “You’ll have to ask the players if it’s a mental hurdle but it’s not for me.
“I don’t think we got outplayed, we got outmuscled. With so many injured, it’s a struggle.”
Jutkiewicz headed in the opener at the back post from Jota’s corner.
And Rotherham were quickly reeling from another Jutkiewicz blow, when he pounced after Gary Gardner’s shot had been blocked.
In the 68th minute, the striker completed his hat-trick.
Jon Taylor managed a consolation goal, though, firing in after Kyle Vassell’s delivery.
GYLFI SIGURDSSON continued his red-hot form as Marco Silva took a swipe at Sam Allardyce by claiming he is now playing to the star’s strengths.
Sigurdsson smashed a spectacular late screamer to fire Everton to victory after Wes Morgan’s latest red-card nightmare.
Richarlison had earlier volleyed Everton ahead at the King Power Stadium before Ricardo Pereira levelled before the break.
But Morgan was stretched all afternoon by
£40million summer signing Richarlison who played down the middle.
The Leicester captain collected two yellow cards for fouls on the lively Brazilian as he got his marching orders in the
63rd minute.
And it was very costly as it handed
Everton the impetus to decide what had been a tight game.
Sigurdsson settled it with his fifth of the season in the
77th minute – and fourth goal in as many games – after a superb turn and shot.
The Icelander lashed in a spectacular dipping right-foot effort from more than 25 yards to finally beat Kasper Schmeichel after a series of saves.
It was the type of quality which persuaded Everton to pay a club-record
£45m for Sigurdsson last summer from Swansea.
He only got six goals under Ronald Koeman and Allardyce previously but looks set to soon eclipse that tally under successor Silva.
Silva (above) said: “Gylfi showed his quality in that type of moment to receive the ball and with how he shot that ball. I know his quality. He is playing in a different role.
“Our style is completely different to the style from last season.
“It fits really differently into his profile as a player.
“If you have a player like Gylfi and are always playing direct balls and preparing for the second balls it is not for Gylfi.
“If you can create and build a style of play to fit of course it will help him.
“But what Gylfi is doing is because he is working really hard and preparing to play with intensity.” It was the second time in three matches this term defender Morgan, 34 – who is out of contract next summer – has seen red.
He was given his marching orders in the 4-2 Premier League defeat at Bournemouth last month, again after receiving two yellow cards.
Foxes boss Claude Puel said: “The second yellow was tough to accept and this changes the game.
“Wes is experienced and is unlucky with both his sendings off.”
Everton took the lead in the seventh minute after brilliant play from Brazilian wideman Bernard who was making his first Premier League start. He jinked into the box past Pereira and Daniel Amartey before crossing for compatriot Richarlison to volley in after Schmeichel failed to clear.
The goal was the fifth the Foxes have conceded in the opening 20 minutes in the top flight this season.
It stung Leicester into life as they responded when Jamie Vardy put a header wide from Ben Chilwell’s cross.
The visitors continued to look dangerous on the break and in the 25th minute Sigurdsson was denied by Schmeichel.
Everton felt they should have had a penalty in the 30th minute when Theo Walcott went down after being caught by Harry Maguire on the edge of the box.
Leicester had a good chance in the
34th minute when Vardy was set free on goal by a lofted ball over the top from Wilfred Ndidi.
But Vardy, searching for his fourth goal this term, was put under pressure from Michael Keane and toe-poked wide.
Leicester went in level thanks to Pereira, a £20m summer signing from Porto, who swapped passes with Kelechi Iheanacho before bursting into the box, beating Jonjoe Kenny and thumping in a left-foot shot.
Everton No.1 Jordan Pickford got a hand to it but was unable to keep it out as Pereira registered his first goal for the Foxes.
Leicester were on top after the restart but were badly hampered after Morgan went off.
It left the hosts hanging on as Schmeichel had to make a fine double save in the
69th minute from Lucas
Digne and then Everton skipper Tom Davies.
But the Dane was powerless to keep out a dipping thunderbolt from Sigurdsson, who turned James Maddison and found the back of the net.