Gray shines as Leicester pile even more pressure on managerless Everton
There were contrasting emotions at the king power Stadium yesterday. Leicester City secured their first victory under new manager Claude Puel and eased away from trouble at the foot of the Premier League by winning 2-0 against a managerless and hapless Everton side who remain in the relegation zone.
Puel recalled Demarai Gray to Leicester’s starting XI and the England Under-21 international was the star of the show.
Gray picked up the ball on the edge of his own box on nine minutes, used his pace to evade Tom Davies before skipping past the challenge of Idrissa Gueye and releasing Riyad Mahrez with a perfectly weighted pass down the right side. Mahrez matched Gray’s precision as he crossed into the path of Jamie Vardy, who was never going to miss from close range.
Gray then cut in off the left flank 20 minutes later to unleash a goal-bound cross, which was deflected into the net via a clumsy attempt at a clearance from Everton’s Jonjoe Kenny.
Everton fought hard after the break, but a fourth game without a win, three of which have been losses, means the Toffees stay in the bottom three. Leicester, on the other hand, are up to 11th and are now unbeaten in four league games.
“It’s a very good result,” said Puel, pictured inset, who took up the Leicester reins last week following Craig Shakespeare’s exit.
“I was impressed because we played very well first half with good combination, good relationships between the players and it was a fantastic first goal.”
Everton caretaker boss David Unsworth was critical of his side’s first-half display but was pleased with their improvement after the break.
“Second half we were much, much better and the positivity and the way we wanted to play on the front foot was there for all to see,” he said.
In yesterday’s other fixture, Glenn Murray’s third goal in two games earned Brighton a 1-1 draw in their south-coast showdown with Southampton at the Amex Stadium.
Murray headed home in the 52nd minute to secure a point for the hosts after former Rangers midfielder Steven Davis had given Southampton an early lead.
Newcastle United travel to Burnley for tonight’s televised match.