Burton Albion 0-2 Leicester City: Foxes ease into Carabao Cup second round

Kelechi Iheanacho deftly scores Leicester's opening goalImage source, Rex Features
Image caption,

Kelechi Iheanacho's flick with the outside of his left foot gave Leicester an early lead

Leicester City comfortably won their first Carabao Cup first round tie in a decade as they beat League One Burton Albion.

Kelechi Iheanacho's deft left-footed flick from Marc Albrighton's cross gave Leicester a sixth-minute lead as the Foxes controlled the opening period.

Wilfred Ndidi's calm finish in first-half stoppage time ended the game as a contest while Iheanacho had chances to increase the lead after the break.

Leicester's debutant goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk was not tested as they remained in command.

The Foxes - who will go to Tranmere in the next round - made seven changes to the side that beat Coventry City on Sunday as Iheanacho, Albrighton, Dennis Praet and James Justin all made their first starts under new Leicester boss Enzo Maresca.

Having gone close in the opening 30 seconds with a header, Iheanacho made no mistake a few minutes later as he flicked the ball home from six yards with the outside of his left foot after getting in between Burton's centre-backs.

Burton were dealt a blow 11 minutes from half time when major summer signing Cole Stockton worryingly limped off with what looked like a groin or quad injury. But the hosts came close to levelling when Ryan Sweeney's header was cleared off the line by Callum Doyle.

Less than two minutes later, however, the Foxes showed the class that had seen them keep 80% possession in the opening period as Iheanacho broke down the left and cut back to Ndidi who side-footed into the top corner from 12 yards.

Jamal Blackman did well to keep Burton in the game with a close-range save from a deflected cross early in the second period while the lively Wanya Marcal-Madivadua blasted wide.

John Brayford did well to block an Iheanacho effort from inside the area with 18 minutes left, while Stockton's replacement Josh Gordon twice shot wide from the edge of the box.

Burton had more decent pressure in stoppage time, but ended with a second successive 2-0 loss after defeat at Blackpool in their League One opener on Saturday.

Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca:

"It had the potential to be difficult for us but we started really well with the first goal.

"Then it got a bit more complicated as they changed and made it harder for us and we had to find solutions.

"In the end we are very happy because we continue improving with the ideas we are trying to get across and that is important.

"What we are looking for is very clear, even in the previous game."

Burton Albion manager Dino Maamria:

"Our intention in the first half was to block them in and press them to stop their rhythm and we have ended up doing the complete opposite in those first six minutes conceding that goal.

"We gave them too much respect and that is not us.

"Second half was a much better performance where we were more compact and we had a couple of good chances to get a goal and it is a shame we didn't get that goal that we deserved."

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