Ipswich Town have picked up just two points against fellow relegated sides this season (Image: Ross Halls)
Ipswich Town have picked up just two points against fellow relegated sides this season (Image: Ross Halls)
In a match between two relegated Premier League sides, Leicester City earned a 2-0 win against Ipswich Town on Jamie Vardy's final appearance for the club.
Despite a strong start, the legendary striker opened the scoring at the King Power, with Kasey McAteer wrapping up the match with a powerful finish from a tight angle in the latter stages.
Ipswich grew into the match as the two sets of fans traded chants, with the Blues threatening in the third minute as Dara O’Shea lofted into the box from deep. George Hirst came close to connecting with it, but Jakub Stolarczyk beat him to it.
Ipswich created the better chances in the early stages of the match
Ipswich created the better chances in the early stages of the match
(Image: Ross Halls)
The better chance came three minutes later. Sam Morsy chased down a loose pass before threading the ball up the pitch to Julio Enciso. The Brighton loanee took his time before picking out Leif Davis, who cracked the post with a powerful shot from the left flank.
They came again, with Davis turning provider as he cut the ball back for Jack Clarke, who couldn’t make proper connection with his effort in the eighth minute. Leicester cleared as far as Morsy, who took aim from around 30 yards out, firing just over the crossbar.
A heavy tackle from Luke Thomas on Omari Hutchinson preceded yet another chance for Town, with Enciso dragging a shot wide of the post in the 16th minute. Seconds later, Hirst nodded a cross from Morsy narrowly off target following a throw in down the right.
Leif Davis returned to the starting lineup after serving his three-match ban
Leif Davis returned to the starting lineup after serving his three-match ban
(Image: Ross Halls)
Then came Leicester’s big moment, with Vardy skipping past O’Shea after collecting a pass from Jordan Ayew. In the end, he took the ball too far to the right, with Davis closing him down and forcing him to shoot into the side netting in with 20th minute.
Another opportunity came from a free-kick a few seconds later. Bilal El Khannous floated the ball into the box for Vardy to turn and shoot, but Morsy did enough to get himself in front of the veteran striker and force him to hit the side netting once again.
The Foxes were too passive when Ipswich attacked, with O’Shea getting them going once again in the 27th minute. Davis found a gap to deliver a sumptuous cross into the centre of the box, but it fizzed over the head of Hirst before Hutchinson blasted a first-time strike over the bar from close range.
Jamie Vardy scored his 200th goal for Leicester on his 500th and final appearance for the club
Jamie Vardy scored his 200th goal for Leicester on his 500th and final appearance for the club
(Image: PA)
Vardy had given Ipswich two early warning shots, so when the third one came, he was never going to pass it up. A slip from Jack Clarke allowed Leicester to counter, with James Justin carrying it into the final third before slipping in Vardy, who slotted the ball past Alex Palmer to put his side 1-0 up in the 28th minute. His 200nd goal on his 500th and final appearance for the Foxes.
Town, at this stage, were on the ropes, with the atmosphere building as the hosts came forward again, with Ayew firing a deflected shot wide before Hutchinson cleared the resulting corner.
The former Chelsea man had one big opportunity to equalise before the break as Davis charged down the left, crossing over the head of Hirst once again. Hutchinson picked it up, but drove his shot over the bar in the 42nd minute, pulling his shirt above his head in frustration.
The Blues struggled to create clear chances after the break
The Blues struggled to create clear chances after the break (Image: PA)
Ipswich found gaps in the opening stages of the second half, with Davis delivering a cross into the box that bounced just past Hirst before Enciso rolled a low shot into the gloves of Stolarczyk - their first on target in the game.
They maintained pressure. Hutchinson's delivery from the right in the 57th minute opened up space for Jens Cajuste to head wide. For all their opportunities, it didn't feel like they were really turning the screw.
They needed a gift, and one fell their way with an hour on the clock as Stolarczyk booted the ball at Enciso. The ball flew up in the air, bouncing awkwardly as the Paraguay international took aim from a tight angle, forcing the Leicester goalkeeper to rush back and grab it off the line.
Kasey McAteer doubled Leicester's advantage in the second half
Kasey McAteer doubled Leicester's advantage in the second half (Image: PA)
Up the other end three minutes later, they had a huge let-off as space opened up for Kasey McAteer, who curled a powerful effort off the post from the edge of the box.
Morsy dinked a ball up the line for Hirst in the 68th minute, allowing the striker to carry it in from the right flank and test Stolarczyk again, but it was a simple save for the shot-stopper as Leicester eased the pressure.
The Foxes, however, put themselves in complete control 60 seconds later as Wilfred Ndidi threaded McAteer in down the right. With options in the middle, he decided to take aim himself, firing a powerful shot past Alex Palmer's near post to make it 2-0.
The Blues have dropped to 19th in the Premier League table
The Blues have dropped to 19th in the Premier League table
(Image: PA)
In Ipswich's eyes, the game wasn't over, and a quadruple substitution from Kieran McKenna showed that. One of those introduced was Nathan Broadhead, who flicked a shot wide from Hutchinson's cross in the 78th minute.
Davis thought that he got a goal back as stoppage time, firing Hutchinson's cross into the net, but the flag was raised for offside, with the decision confirmed by VAR. Even if it was given, it would have been little more than a consolation.
Leicester XI: 4-2-3-1: Stolarczyk; Justin (Pereira 64'), Coady, Faes, Thomas; Ndidi (Skipp 88'), Soumare; McAteer (Evans 80'), Ayew (Monga 64'), El Khannouss; Vardy (Daka 80')
Town XI: 4-2-3-1: Palmer; Tuanzebe, O’Shea, Greaves, Davis; Morsy (Luongo 88'), Cajuste (Taylor 71'); Hutchinson, Enciso (Chaplin 71'), Clarke (Broadhead 71'); Hirst (Delap 71')
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