All bright for Leicester with eye on silverware

MARC ALBRIGHTON ended a goal drought that had lasted more than two years to boost Leicester’s hopes of winning the FA Cup for the first time in their history.

The winger’s last strike was on Boxing Day 2018 in a 2-1 win over Manchester City and, after James Justin had given Leicester a halftime lead with a gem from long range, Albrighton made it two in the 59th minute with a finish the injured Jamie Vardy would have been proud of. Further goals from Ayoze Perez and Harvey Barnes rounded off a satisfying afternoon for the Premier League side.

‘I spoke to Marc during the week and told him that he should be scoring more goals,’ said Foxes manager Brendan Rodgers.

‘I like his intensity. It was a great run and a very good finish. It’s something he can do more of. We want to do well in the competition so I picked the best team I could. You need luck to get through but you also need your best players.’

Barnes just failed to give Leicester the lead in the eighth minute. Kasper Schmeichel found Albrighton with a quick kick from the hands and when Albrighton picked out Barnes eight yards out, the winger forced a smart save from Joe Bursik.

Stoke should have taken the lead just before the half- hour mark. From Danny Batth’s deep freekick, Harry Souttar flicked on to Ryan Shawcross, who headed to Sam Vokes seven yards out. The Wales international was unmarked but skied his volley.

Justin’s chance came in the 34th minute. The full-back collected the ball on the left and cut inside Tommy Smith and Joe Allen before curling a shot into the top corner.

Leicester continued to l ook dangerous after the break and Albrighton made it two with the hour approaching. James McClean slipped attempting to cut out Youri Tielemans’ crossfield pass and Albrighton turned Batth before producing a sweet finish into the bottom-left corner.

Then Perez was presented with a simple finish after the outstanding Timothy Castagne laid Dennis Praet’s low cross into his path and moments later Barnes volleyed in from 15 yards.

It was a confident strike that summed up an assured display from Rodgers’ men, who will be feared when the fourth and fifthround draws are made tomorrow.