SHAKEY HAILS FOXES GRAY-T
Potters left in the shade
STOKE found themselves tied up in knots as Leicester put on a production of the Nifty Shades of Gray.
Demarai Gray dished out a beating and then said he is prepared to take punishment to land a starring role with the Foxes.
The 20-year-old tormented Stoke with his rapid turn of speed and ended up with a shoulder injury courtesy of a Ryan Shawcross challenge which had Leicester boss Craig Shakespeare gasping.
“He had an upbringing in the Championship, so he’s probably used to it to a certain extent,” said Shakey.
Stunning
“But whether he’s ever had the force of a Ryan Shawcross tackle before – it was like a WWF move!”
Two stunning goals from Wilfred Ndidi and Jamie Vardy settled this game, but it was Gray who was the chief tormentor.
Stoke’s Shawcross let him know exactly where he stood after just 17 minutes and escaped with a yellow card.
“He’s just that fast it looked worse than it was,” said Shawcross. “I tried to nick the ball and he got away from me. It was a yellow card, nothing more.”
Former Birmingham winger Gray accepts top-flight defenders will not allow him to show a clean pair of heels.
He said: “I was getting strong tackles in the Championship, so it’s not new to me, but it’s been a while since I had one like that.
“I am better off taking it as a compliment, if they’ve got to try to hack me to stop me. It’s a massive learning curve. I was trying to stay away, but I take it as a big compliment.”
Leicester were worthy winners, Ndidi setting them on their way with a drive into the top corner which gave keeper Lee Grant no chance.
Grant certainly earned his money, but once again could do nothing to stop Vardy’s close-range volley ripping the net pegs out after more good work by Danny Simpson.
Four consecutive Premier League wins have eased Leicester’s relegation fears. Victory at home to Sunderland tomorrow night should be enough to see them over the line.
Shakespeare said: “I look at it as we had two home games from which we’re trying to get maximum points.
“We got them from Stoke and now have to do it against Sunderland.”