Foxes Hit Four Past Stoke To Advance In FA Cup
Following Sunday’s 2-1 win at Newcastle United, manager Brendan Rodgers made just two changes to his starting XI, with Dennis Praet and Ayoze Pérez replacing James Maddison and Jamie Vardy, while Kasper Schmeichel captained the side on his 399th Foxes appearance in all competitions.
It proved to be a lively opening period in Staffordshire, with John Obi Mikel drilling over, Schmeichel collecting an effort from Jacob Brown and Joe Bursik denying Harvey Barnes with his legs.
Academy graduate Barnes threatened again after the first half's midway point, but he couldn't hit the target after a direct run from the left flank saw him drag wide of Bursik's goal.
Stoke replied and when skipper Ryan Shawcross nodded into the path of Sam Vokes, the striker had a golden chance to open the scoring, but volleyed over from six yards out.
But it was City who'd take the lead, and it came in emphatic fashion. James Justin, operating at left-back, darted in from the left wing and curled a stunner into the top corner for his third City goal.
Then came an opportunity to make it 2-0, but after Praet found Barnes, the England international saw Bursik pull off a fine point-blank save with 38 minutes on the clock.
A stop-start opening to the second half followed, with Wilfred Ndidi having the most notable chance after he fired low and wide of Bursik's right-hand post on 56 minutes.
A moment of quality from Youri Tielemans came soon after, splitting the City defence with a fine pass to find Marc Albrighton, who cut back inside and bent the ball into the bottom corner with his left foot for 2-0.
Justin then found himself in a similar position to that of when he scored his opener, however this time, Bursik was able to collect the No.2's effort at the front post.
A spell of pressure followed from the visitors, who scored twice in the space of just three minutes to make sure of the win at bet365 Stadium.
City's third of the afternoon saw Belgium colleagues Praet and Timothy Castagne combine before the latter found Pérez, who side-footed in for his second strike of 2020/21.
Maintaining their forward threat, Leicester made it 4-0 on 81 minutes as Justin's cross deflected into the path of Barnes, whose first-time volley beat the unsighted Bursik.
Major moment
City headed into the game well aware of the Potters' defensive strengths, and they knew it would take a moment of magic to open the scoring in Staffordshire.
Up stepped versatile full-back James Justin, who drifted in from the left flank and bent a beautiful strike into the top corner to break the deadlock just before the break.
After the interval, Marc Albrighton's first goal since Boxing Day 2018 doubled Leicester's advantage, before efforts from Ayoze Pérez and Harvey Barnes sealed the triumph.
Who impressed?
Speaking on LCFC Radio's Matchday Live, former Stoke City defender Gerry Taggart said: "There’s been a few good performances. Marc Albrighton in particular for me had a really good, solid game and on another day, I’d have given him Man of the Match.
"Wesley Fofana has been immense in the second half and Youri Tielemans has controlled the game, but I’d be a little bit harsh if I didn’t give it to James Justin.
"He’s scored one, and made one and you can’t really ask for more."
Where do we stand?
City advance to the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup and will discover their opponents when the draw takes place on Monday evening.
Coming up…
A return to Premier League action follows on Saturday, when an in-form Southampton side visits King Power Stadium (8pm kick-off), while City’s second home league match in just four days sees them host Chelsea the following Tuesday (8:15pm kick-off).
All times GMT.