Patience and sheer determination won it for Leicester City on Wednesday night as they left Norwich City with a 2-0 win which propels them up to second in the Sky Bet Championship table.
Kelechi Iheanach’s penalty put the Foxes ahead before the break, while Kasey McAteer’s fourth goal of the season ended a difficult clash in Norfolk. Enzo Maresca’s men had to dig in the trenches in the second half, bravely denying the Canaries an escape. A fine save from Mads Hermansen and brave defending from his team-mates earned them a sixth win in seven league matches, leaving City a point behind leaders Preston North End at the summit.
Maresca surprised some by making five changes from the squad that saw Southampton win 4-1 five days earlier. Hamza Choudhury is on the guest list, with the Academy graduate wearing the captain’s armband at Norfolk. As is often the case when Leicester travel this season, a full crowd awaits them at Carrow Road, eager to beat a team many hope will win promotion in 2023/24. These are the evenings when these ambitions will be most closely scrutinized during the campaign.
Hermansen was tested early when Jack Stacey raced into space on the right. However, Man City’s Danish goalkeeper shot with his right hand. There were also fleeting moments for the Foxes in the first 15 minutes. However, Cesare Casadei and Iheanacho encountered an obstacle as soon as they entered the Canaries penalty area. A well-taken corner saw Gabriel Sara play low to Christian Fassnacht, lurking at the near post. His one-touch pass to Jonathan Rowe produced a shot, but Norwich’s number 27 shot wide. There were plenty of runs but few chances for either team from the start. A combination play between Yunus Akgün and Stephy Mavididi saw the latter score just after the half-hour mark, despite Sara’s brave save. Akgün’s free-kick was also headed into the net by Wout Faes, the Belgian stretching his 6ft 2in frame to get there. Home keeper Angus Gunn, it should be noted, caught the ball. A penalty as half-time approached gave visiting Leicester a valuable opportunity to gain control. Harry Winks’ calm play won the ball back in midfield. The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder quickly passed the ball to Mavididi on the wing – then he ran straight towards the goal. Fassnacht was behind him, pushing the former Montpellier winger to the ground in the penalty area. Penalty. Iheanacho was the one to step up. The home team – still stunned by the referee’s decision – tried their best to push the Nigerian out, but he hit a strong and true, right-footed shot to beat Gunn against Norwich. .
Mavididi then missed the target after a quick block by Iheanacho. City are pressing and breaking quickly in transition. The frustration was evident to see – and hear – in the stands. Norwich came out after the break with renewed intent, trying to put Leicester into a defensive third. Maresca’s response was to introduce Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Wilfred Ndidi, two players who are encouraged to play this season but also possess the toughness the visitors need to hold back the yellow shirt wave. Shane Duffy’s header – from Sara’s corner – hit Jannik Vestergaard in the box. Shouting with his hands rang out from the field but referee Graham Scott remained motionless.
The Foxes were operating in a tight position, but Ndidi managed to get past Iheanacho in the 60th minute. The first scorer seemed finished, until he turned left and saw Duffy rush in to make a impressive final challenge. Norwich supporters expressed their disappointment again soon after when no penalty was awarded as Faes retrieved the ball from Dimitris Giannoulis on the touchline, to the right of Hermansen’s goal. The birth of Jamie Vardy has brought opportunities to Leicester. The third highest scorer in the club’s history was not only a threat, he also kept defenders away from where they should have been. Mavididi sought to take advantage by quickly passing to Dewsbury-Hall shortly after Vardy’s arrival. If the midfielder were a few centimeters taller, he might have had more venom in his head.
A moment of true goalkeeping genius then took place. Hermansen’s playing ability has improved greatly since his arrival from Brøndby, paving the way for a new style of play under Maresca. He is also an excellent goalkeeper, as Duffy discovered in the 72nd minute. The ball was played into the box and Duffy nodded towards goal from 2m out. Hermansen calmly watched the drama unfold before his eyes, before leaning his head against the bar and catching the eye of Kenny McLean.
McLean hit Leicester’s crossbar moments later, trying to finish past Hermansen, who was off his line. Norwich were now really on the attack. Next are James Justin and Abdul Fatawu. Steel and sophistication. Half way through Carrow thought their team were level when Sara’s free-kick bulged the side netting. However, no luck for Norwich. A big opportunity came to McAteer when the clock ticked down in the 84th minute. Fatawu’s unexpected cross found the young player at the far post but he couldn’t hit the ground with his header. Don’t worry, McAteer – who is becoming a hero for the Green Army this season – achieved his goal soon after. Vardy passed the ball to Dewsbury-Hall in the far left corner of the box, and his delicate touch saw him progress towards goal. However, he had the wherewithal to spot his fellow Academy graduate and generously fed the ball to McAteer to put it into the empty net.
Ui Jo Hwang’s low shot was deflected late on with eight minutes to go for Norwich, who knew by then the night was over. Leicester continued to march. It was one of those nights. They seized the opportunity and got the job done
