Foxes Into Carabao Cup Quarter-Finals After Burton Triumph
A total of nine changes from the record-breaking 9-0 win at Southampton on Friday saw only Jonny Evans and Youri Tielemans remain in the starting XI, as the Foxes set about making it three wins on the spin in all competitions.
The warning signs were there early on for the hosts as Nigeria international frontman Kelechi Iheanacho, who found the net for City in the previous round against Luton Town, dragged an effort just wide after four minutes.
It took just three more minutes for Iheanacho to get his name on the scoresheet, though, as he turned home midfielder Tielemans’ first-time pass for his second goal of the 2019/20 campaign.
Midway through the first half, City were two goals to the good as Tielemans, after setting up the opener, side-footed in fellow Belgium international Dennis Praet’s cross into the bottom corner past Kieran O’Hara.
At the end of the first period, meanwhile, Wales international Danny Ward made two saves in quick succession to ensure Nigel Clough’s Brewers didn’t get back into the game before the interval.
The hosts persisted after the break and it was Liam Boyce who beat Ward with a powerful strike on 52 minutes to give his side hope of a comeback, before Hamza Choudhury cleared a shot off the line to prevent an equaliser for the home side.
On the hour mark, wideman Marc Albrighton forced shot-stopper O’Hara into a good save at his front post, before smashing the rebound into the side-netting.
With just over 15 minutes to play, Ward pulled off a brilliant point-blank save to turn away Scott Fraser’s sweet volley, maintaining City’s one-goal lead in turn.
Burton’s Oliver Sarkic also had an opportunity, but couldn’t steer the ball past the onrushing Ward, and as the game opened up, the Foxes hit a third with a minute of normal time remaining.
A neat piece of play from Demarai Gray saw him glide past his marker before squaring to substitute James Maddison, who slotted into the bottom corner past O’Hara in front of the travelling City fans.
Major moment
While the Foxes were much-changed from their convincing victory over Southampton, the key was to maintain their momentum, and two goals inside 13 first-half minutes did exactly that.
Kelechi Iheanacho’s opener came after just seven minutes, and while Burton threatened to equalise after they pulled a goal back in the second half, it was the early dominance of City that provided a foundation for them to win the game.
Who impressed?
Matt Elliott told LCFC Radio after the game: “Brendan Rodgers has some top-quality players who all know their roles, and they played some top-class stuff out there. They had the right mentality and dealt with the mini-storms that came their way.
"Danny Ward was instrumental in keeping Leicester ahead in the game with a miraculous save, but you always thought Leicester had that little bit extra.
"I'll go Demarai Gray as my Man of the Match, all things considered. I mentioned him regularly in the game and there were many other good performances.”
Where do we stand?
The Foxes, for the third season in a row, advance into the last-eight of the Carabao Cup, and will find out who they next face in the competition when the draw takes place on Thursday morning.
Coming up…
Brendan Rodgers’ men next head to Selhurst Park for their third-straight away fixture in all competitions, as they take on Crystal Palace in the Premier League.