Tielemans & Vardy Strike In Comeback Against Burnley
During the Foxes’ closest home game to the death of Khun Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others at King Power Stadium, a minute’s silence before kick-off followed the Walk For Vichai, while the Blue Army were in full voice during the 61st minute to remember the Club’s late Chairman.
Ayoze Pérez was the only change in City’s starting XI to face the Clarets, as the Spaniard replaced Belgium international Dennis Praet, while James Maddison was involved from the off after an illness forced him to withdraw from the England squad over the international break.
It was Maddison who went closest for City midway through the first period, as he saw his strike cleared off the line by Ben Mee after Academy graduate Harvey Barnes miscued his effort in the build-up.
However, it was the visiting side who would first find the back of the net, as former City striker Chris Wood flicked in Dwight McNeil’s cross from the right to hand his side a 1-0 lead on 26 minutes.
Belgium international midfielder Youri Tielemans then had a deflected strike turned away by Burnley stopper Nick Pope, while Jamie Vardy hit the side-netting with six minutes of the first half to play.
But City persisted and when Barnes managed to deliver a pin-point cross from the left wing, Vardy was there to head home his sixth goal of the 2019/20 season to restore parity at King Power Stadium.
After the break, Maddison, Tielemans and Pérez all sent strikes over the Burnley bar, while Vardy had the ball in the back of the net for the second time in the game after substitute Demarai Gray strayed offside in the build-up.
Then, a lovely phase of play involving Ricardo Pereira, Gray and Barnes eventually led to City’s second goal of the match. Barnes’ flick fell to Tielemans, who took a touch before firing into the roof of the net.
Burnley thought they had levelled matters with eight minutes to play after the ball rebounded off Jonny Evans and hit the back of the net, but after a VAR review, it was ruled off after Wood tripped the Northern Ireland international in the build-up.
Major moment
Jamie Vardy’s header on the stroke of half-time came at a crucial moment, as he cancelled out Chris Wood’s effort to make it 1-1.
Heading into the break on level matters proved to be vital, as the Foxes went on to win the game via a neat finish from Youri Tielemans.
Who impressed?
Gerry Taggart told LCFC Radio after the win: “I'm going to give it to Youri Tielemans today. He was always probing and passing and trying to play the right ball.
"In the end, he came up with the winning goal at the vital moment, so Youri Tielemans is my Man of the Match.”
Where do we stand?
City move up to second in the Premier League standings after their fifth triumph of 2019/20, with only Manchester City and Arsenal, who play later in the weekend, able to leapfrog Brendan Rodgers’ outfit.
Coming up…
An away trip to St. Mary’s Stadium to face Southampton follows for Leicester City on Friday 25 October (8pm kick-off), before their Carabao Cup campaign continues on Tuesday 29 October (7:45pm kick-off) against Burton Albion at Pirelli Stadium.
All times BST/GMT.