The duo of Nigeria international Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho were on target yesterday as Leicester City picked up a routine 2-0 victory against Burton to advance into the second round of the 2023/24 Carabao Cup.
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The Foxes were dominant throughout as they made it two wins from two at the beginning of the new season at Pirelli Stadium with an away trip to Sky Bet League 2 outfit Tranmere Rovers, the reward for the ‘three-time winners’ in the second round.
The two sides exchanged early blows, with Iheanacho heading over inside 60 seconds, just before Wout Faes bravely blocked Joe Powell’s low rocket.
The Foxes’ opener came just six minutes in, an epitome of the football Maresca is trying to deploy at the club too with the ball starting from the back.
Leicester were under significant scrutiny in their defensive third but kept their cool to play through the pressure. Before long, the ball was at the feet of Marc Albrighton – City’s skipper for the night – and his cross was back-heeled calmly into the net by Iheanacho.
Maresca’s reaction was to turn to Stolarczyk to applaud the shot-stopper’s role in the move.
The breakthrough moment came when Callum Doyle, the ex-Coventry man gave a quick release pass to free Iheanacho down the left channel and the forward burst forwards looked to his right and slid the ball over to international team-mate Ndidi.
Leicester’s No.25, offered more attacking freedom by Maresca, then gently stroked the ball into Jamal Blackman’s top corner. Hugs all around.
Enzo Maresca praised the impact of his midfielders after the win, “It’s fantastic for them,” he added. “As I said many times, the only way to score goals for them is to arrive inside the box.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall arrived many times. Wilfred Ndidi tonight, Dennis Praet too. They are key players for us.”
On Saturday, Leicester City in the second game of the Sky Bet Championship will host Huddersfield Town at their home ground.
