Leicester Regain Top Spot With Millwall Success
Tom Bradshaw’s 10th-minute opener for the Lions was a shock to the system which took time to overcome, but Enzo Maresca’s side were comfortable winners in the end. Jannik Vestergaard’s early second-half header was quickly followed by Patson Daka’s second goal in as many games. Wilfred Ndidi was then in the right place at the right time to get the last touch onto Ricardo Pereira's shot for City’s third of the night. Kevin Nisbet notched a second for the visitors in added time, but there wasn’t enough time for a late Millwall fightback. This success sees the Foxes snatch top spot back from Ipswich Town, now one point clear, while they also extend the gap to third-placed Leeds United to 11 as Christmas looms.
Ricardo was back in the Leicester XI after serving a one-game suspension, while Conor Coady also came into the back four on a chilly Filbert Way evening. It was Millwall who led after a largely uneventful opening 10 minutes, with Murray Wallace’s cross being glanced in by Bradshaw. The visiting No.9 also hit the side netting after being played in behind Vestergaard by George Honeyman nine minutes later. It was a frustrating start for Maresca’s men, who had been knocked off the summit the night before. Their response was the same as ever – to stick to their principles and keep the ball. They were building through the thirds in hope of a swift equaliser in any case, upping the ante when required. Their first true opportunity came courtesy of a free-kick, mind you, with Wout Faes’ lopping header being caught comfortably by Matija Sarkic.
Millwall were doing anything to stop Leicester from hitting them on the counter. Before the half-way point in the first half, Joe Edwards’ men had picked up three yellows for last-ditch challenges. It was the south London outfit charging forwards on the half hour though. Only the extended leg of Vestergaard diverted Duncan Watmore’s low drive behind for a corner. At the other end, Abdul Fatawu’s hit was knocked the wrong side of the post by Wes Harding, before Daka scuffed Mavididi’s low corner well wide of the Millwall far corner. Ndidi then clipped Fatawu’s drag-back over the bar from an encouraging position inside the penalty box. It wasn’t working for the Foxes, who nevertheless at times boasted upwards of 80 per cent possession.
There was fury in the stands on 36 minutes, meanwhile, as Harding’s sliding challenge sent Fatawu tumbling to the ground inside the box. Coady got a booking for his protests, but Keith Stroud was strident in his belief that the Millwall man got the ball. City did later get a free-kick in a decent place, centrally around 25 yards out, and Vestergaard hit it with his laces. Sarkic, though, got across to his bottom corner to make the save. The Foxes came out for the second half with intent. Wallace, who had struggled to contain Fatawu down the channel, was taken off at the break for the visitors. Sarkic was called into action immediately after the restart as Ndidi hit Ricardo’s cross at goal, but it was saved well.
Vestergaard’s header marked the start of Leicester’s comeback. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s cross was perfect, high enough to beat Millwall’s giant defensive line. Jake Cooper had a fistful of Vestergaard’s shirt but the Dane wasn’t distracted. He was tall and brave enough to get his head on it, with his back to goal, and it bounced across the line. The relief swelled around Filbert Way. Finally a starting point for win no.17 of the season. Just like Saturday’s 4-0 rout of Plymouth, it was an early second-half blitz which made the difference. It was 2-1 to the Foxes moments later with another tremendous cross, this time from Ndidi, being tapped over the line by Daka. That’s two in two for the Zambian, who’s deputising for the absent Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho.
Another searching delivery into the box – from Fatawu’s left boot on this occasion, found the head of Mavididi at the far post, although the former Arsenal youngster’s effort hit the side netting. Tom Cannon’s introduction saw the ex-Everton man play a role in City’s third of the night. Dewsbury-Hall’s low ball was miscontrolled by Harding in the Millwall area. Cannon's shot was blocked and Ricardo collected the rebound, later seeing his shot ricochet off Ndidi and beyond Sarkic in the visiting net. Leicester were in control but it could have been nervy at the end but for a goal-line block from Faes to prevent Honeyman from narrowing the arrears. Substitute Nisbet did in fact get another back, but it came deep into added time, giving the south Londoners little time to get an equaliser. Leicester march on, top of the table, and now on a three-game winning stint.