Shinji Shines in City Win – Leicester 3-1 Palace Fan Report

We sent our 100%LCFC Fan Reporter SCOTT DAVIES to the match… and he brings us the view from the Kop…. READ IT HERE

The Eagles visited the King Power Stadium off the back of a mixed run of form, much like City’s start to the Premier League campaign. Incidentally, this fixture kickstarted the unbeaten home run for the Foxes as Jamie Vardy scored his tenth goal of the season in a 1-0 win which also earned them Pizza after their first clean sheet last season.

The Palace frontline has been bolstered by the arrival of Christian Benteke from Liverpool and they have some quality running through the team despite their mixed start to the season, particularly in Zaha and Townsend on either wing.

Leicester should have taken the lead after just 2 minutes when Mandanda gifted Shinji Okazaki with a glorious chance, but the Japanese striker rushed his effort which went high and wide with Mandanda left stranded.

It was a frantic start to the match as both teams looked to press each other and Palace went close on 12 as Benteke outmuscled Huth to climb highest and crash his header against the bar.

Both teams looked very good, but it was City who had the edge with Okazaki, Mahrez and Drinkwater pulling the strings. Mahrez is certainly back to his best and he caused problems for the Palace back line with some wing wizardry. On 35 he made a winding run into the box and his shot come cross was cleverly headed goalwards by Okazaki, but the pace of the ball forced the shot just over the bar.

The Foxes continued to push and got their rewards on 42 after some nice play between Musa, Slimani and Okazaki. Some of the build up play was fortunate with a couple of lucky richocets, but it was the tenacity of the attack that led to Musa driving a powerful right footed shot past a static Mandanda to grab his first competive goal for Leicester and a half time lead for his side.

City started the second half well and almost went 2 up on 48 as a Slimani header went just wide after a Simpson cross from the right. The ball hit the side netting as it went past the post and a third of the ground thought it had gone in.

The Eagles then had a decent 10 minute spell where City had to be resolute in their approach, however on 63, City doubled their lead. Drinkwater lead the move down the left and crossed the ball into a dangerous area which was initially cleared by Cabaye, however Shinji Okazaki was on hand to drive home a neat finish and after 14 games without a goal (Newcastle in March), we saw that infectious smile again. Shinji had more passes than any other Leicester player as the image here shows…

Kasper Schmeichel was called into action on a couple of occasions, but they were pretty much routine saves for the Dane.

City looked to have put the game to bed on 80. A Riyad Mahrez corner was headed clear by Benteke but only as far as Christian Fuchs who blasted a beautiful volley from 20 yards out for his first City goal and ended it with a celebration of paper, scissors, stones with Okazaki.

A comfortable game was then made a little more uneasy on 85 after Cabaye pulled one back, however City saw the game out and should have even had a 4th in added time as substitute Jamie Vardy flicked the ball over to Mahrez who drove his shot straight at Mandanda who parried the ball away.

The result meant that the Foxes were now unbeaten in 20 homes games in the league, but with Spurs up next away from home, City will be looking to put their away woes behind them.

Man of the Match – Shinji Okazaki.

Watch the Goals here….