Leicester City strengthened their bid for a place in the Champions League next season with a convincing 3-0 victory against West Brom on Thursday night.
Both sides had brilliant opportunities to open the scoring early, although it was the Foxes who put their rejected chances behind them to strike forward when Jamie Vardy only took his second goal in 15 league trips with an emphatic finish.
LEICESTER LEAD! ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/6pvBj8E7Pl
– Leicester City (@LCFC) April 22, 2021
After breaking the deadlock, it did not take long before the home side doubled their lead when Jonny Evans drove a header against his former club before Kelechi Iheanacho struck home to make it 3-0 after a fine play from Vardy.
West Brom pushed forward in an attempt to gain a foothold in the game, but with gaps behind it was Leicester who always looked more likely to score, as Brendan Rodger’s side looked a comfortable 3-0 victory.
Let’s take these players’ ratings for Leicester and West Brom …
Jonny Evans celebrates his goal | Michael Regan / Getty Images
Kasper Schmeichel (GK) – 6/10 – Gave barely anything to do throughout the playing field, a simple save from Matt Phillips.
Wesley Fofana (CB) – 6/10 – A little loose with its distribution and was lucky not to be punished by the visitors. Won some big headlines late when West Brom started throwing men forward in search of a late goal.
Caglar Soyuncu (CB) – 6/10 – Solid defensive performance and marshaled Mbaye Diagne well throughout the competition.
Jonny Evans (CB) – 7/10 – Powerful head to double Leicester’s lead at night and barely put a foot wrong when he was asked to make some rare defense.
James Maddison was restored to start XI | Visionhaus / Getty Images
Timothy Castagne (RWB) – 7/10 – Unlucky to see his shotgun from the post during the first half and was a constant outlet along the right side of Leicester. Very good screen as wing back and right back when he changed position during the second half.
Youri Tielemans (CM) – 7/10 – His usual silky smooth performance in the heart of midfield. Seemed to float around on the pitch and proved just too good for West Broms midfield.
Wilfred Ndidi (CM) – 7/10 – Broke up playing the whole game and kept things simple by picking out Tielemans and Maddison.
Luke Thomas (LWB) – 6/10 – Didn’t affect the game as much as Timothy Castagne on the opposite side but was solid enough.
James Maddison (AM) – 8/10 – His first Premier League appearance since he was dropped for breaking the lock. Was busy all evening and continued to appear in space where visitors could not touch him. Very good back to the page.
Jamie Vardy picks up his second goal in 15 games for Michael Regan / Getty Images
Kelechi Iheanacho (ST) – 7/10 – Should have opened the scoring early but fluffed his lines when he was on goal, but he took his goal well when the next chance presented itself.
Jamie Vardy (ST) – 8/10 – Finally back to points after an emphatic finish. Made brilliant in the build-up to Iheanacho’s goal and looked like Vardy before.
A first change for Leicester?
Fantastic shift from @Wesley_Fofanaa – again? pic.twitter.com/6e6LeMEJ6i
– Leicester City (@LCFC) April 22, 2021
Marc Albrighton (RM) – 6/10
Ayoze Perez (AM) – 6/10
Dennis Praet (CM) – Not applicable
Sam Johnstone wrestles with Kelechi Iheanacho | Pool / Getty Images
Sam Johnstone (GK) – 5/10 – Just missed a league game for West Brom this season but he has wished he would miss this one. Nothing he could do about any of the Leicester strikes without more goals to add to the allowed column for the campaign.
Darnell Furlong (RB) – 6/10 – It says a lot when you hear that this man was one of West Brom’s biggest attack threats. Poped up in decent positions when visitors had a play but could not provide any real quality.
Dara O’Shea (CB) – 5/10 – Given the runaround of both Leicester strikers and stopped chasing shadows during much of the competition. Made a couple of quick blocks but a bad screen on the whole.
Kyle Bartley (CB) – 5/10 – Could not handle the pace of Vardy and almost like his central defensive partner will still feel dizzy tomorrow morning.
Conor Townsend (LB) – 5/10 – Offered very little in an attacking sentence and was left exposed defensively.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles Challenges Timothy Castagne | Pool / Getty Images
Matt Phillips (RM) – 6/10 – Offered a little more than his midfield colleagues, but speculative efforts were about as good as it got.
Okay Yokuslu (CM) – 5/10 – Allowed James Maddison a criminal time on the ball and the Englishman basically just ran the game.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles (CM) – 6/10 – Drove a lot and increased enthusiasm but he barely got close to Leicester midfield.
Callum Robinson (LM) – 5/10 – Well, he did not play against Chelsea, so what did you expect? Quite passive during the first half and was removed at half time.
Matheus Pereira (AM) – 4/10 – Seems to be either completely brilliant or completely anonymous – there is no middle ground. You can probably guess which category this show ended up in through his rating.
Mbaye Diagne led the line on her own James Williamson – AMA / Getty Images
Mbaye Diagne (ST) – 5/10 – Completely isolated and even when he managed to keep the ball, there was no teammate within 15 meters of him.
Back on track for the second half. Ajayi replaced Robinson at the break. # LEIWBA | ? 3-0 ?? pic.twitter.com/ax5TJ5JF5U
– West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) April 22, 2021
Semi Ajayi (CB) – 6/10
Hal Robson-Kanu (ST) – 6/10
Karlan Grant (ST) – 5/10
