Report and highlights as Leicester win in first game after Claude Puel's sacking
Wednesday 27 February 2019 06:27, UK
New manager Brendan Rodgers watched from the stands as Demarai Gray and Jamie Vardy scored to seal Leicester a 2-1 win over Brighton in the Premier League on Tuesday night.
Rodgers received a warm welcome from the Leicester support as he took his seat at the King Power Stadium - just an hour after he was officially announced as the new Leicester boss - and Gray gave the hosts the initiative with a tidy finish in the 10th minute.
Vardy doubled Leicester's lead in the 63rd minute with a driven strike from close range, moments before Davy Propper pulled a goal back for the visitors (66).
Although Brighton attempted to rally back late on, with a Glenn Murray half-volley hitting the side netting, Leicester held on to their narrow lead to move up to 11th.
Brighton's wait for their first Premier League win in 2019 continues as they remain in 16th - three points above the relegation zone on 27 points.
Leicester started the game brightly with Gray getting his fourth Premier League goal of the season in the 10th minute. Anthony Knockaert sloppily gave the ball away to Harvey Barnes before he laid it off to Youri Tielemans to slip in the unmarked Gray, who calmly slotted the ball past Matt Ryan.
Three minutes later and Gray was denied a second after his powerful shot from close range was parried away by Ryan. Brighton grew as the half progressed and they nearly equalised in the 36th minute when Knockaert struck a powerful effort on goal from inside the box, but Schmeichel expertly turned the Frenchman's shot around his right post.
In the 48th minute, Murray squandered a glorious opportunity to level for Brighton when Pascal Gross smartly backheeled the ball to the 35-year-old with the goal gaping, but he struck his first-time effort high and wide.
Shortly after the hour-mark Vardy doubled Leicester's lead. Ricardo Pereira drilled a pass into James Maddison before he poked the ball through to the England international who drilled his shot home.
Moments after Shane Duffy's header from a corner skewed wide, Brighton got a consolation as Propper latched onto Dale Stephens' deflected cross and drove his strike past Schmeichel.
Harvey Barnes twice came close to making it three. He hit an effort wide following a quick counter-attack, as well as striking a half-volley over the bar, but Murray could have got Brighton a point the 87th minute. However, he struck his close-range half-volley into the side netting before Leicester stood firm to record their first Premier League win since New Year's Day.
Mike Stowell: "He [Brendan Rodgers] just spoke to the lads in the dressing room. He was proud of them and liked the spirit and he promised them there are special things on the horizon.
"The atmosphere has lifted with a win and with the new manager because I'm sure he'll bring a lot of good things and he's got a lot of staff with him. It's exciting times."
Chris Hughton: "It was an even game and we had as many chances as they did - certainly in terms of possession and shots.
"But in the moments that mattered they put two away and we didn't. It's probably a reflection of where we are at the moment."
Gareth Southgate was watching the game from the stands and he will have been pleased with how involved England U21 winger Barnes was in Leicester's attacks.
The 21-year-old, who was recalled from his loan spell at West Brom in January, caused right-back Martin Montoya plenty of problems with his pace and power. He was unfortunate not to get a goal in a game where he was regularly the focal point of Leicester's forward line.
Leicester travel to Watford with Rodgers set to manage the Midlands club for the first time against his old club on Super Sunday, while Brighton host Huddersfield on Saturday afternoon.
