Leicester City 4-0 Plymouth Argyle - Patson Daka scored on return to Foxes side

Patson Daka of Leicester City slides on the ground and covers his face as he celebrates scoring against PlymouthImage source, Rex Features
Image caption,

Patson Daka has played more for for Zambia this season than he has Leicester City

Patson Daka marked his first start of the season for Leicester City with a goal as the Championship leaders thrashed Plymouth Argyle.

Stephy Mavididi put the high-flying hosts ahead from the penalty spot in the first half after being fouled in the area by Julio Pleguezuelo.

Out-of-favour Daka, who previously played only one minute off the bench in the Championship this term, doubled Leicester's lead after the break when teed up by Abdul Fatawu.

It was one of three goals scored in six second-half minutes, with Mavididi and Wilfred Ndidi grabbing the others, as the Foxes ensured they remain one point clear at the summit in style.

Foxes boss Enzo Maresca called on Daka for just the second time in the Championship this season as one of three changes, with the striker replacing Kelechi Iheanacho, who dropped out of the squad along with former England striker Jamie Vardy.

While Daka has been rarely seen for Leicester this season - with two previous appearances in league and cup competitions coming off the bench - he has starred for Zambia on the international stage with five goals in four games.

He was energetic from the outset and clinical with his second-half finish to put Leicester on the way to their most comprehensive win of the season.

Pleguezuelo, who was among the six changes for Plymouth for the trip to the King Power Stadium, enabled Mavididi to put Leicester ahead from the spot, converting the penalty after being tripped by the defender.

Plymouth goalkeeper Michael Cooper did well to keep Ndidi from adding a second four minutes later, and while Daka also threatened for Leicester in the first half, both Mustapha Bundu and Callum Wright tested Mads Hermansen at the other end before the break.

Any hopes Plymouth could upstage the Foxes for a first win away from home were quickly snuffed out after the break.

Daka's first goal of the season was followed by his first assist soon after, as he set Ndidi up to make it four.

And just minutes earlier, Mavididi had already added the goal of the day with a fine solo effort.

Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca told BBC Radio Leicester:

"It was a very good performance, apart from the last 10 or 15 minutes of the first half where we lost a little bit of control.

"I said to the players that our target is to play in the same way for 95 minutes, but also there are moments where the opponent want to control the game and they want to use their weapons, and we need to learn how to manage that. "

On Daka's selection: "Since day one Pat was fantastic and has behaved fantastic, but because I play with one striker and we have Jamie and we have Kele - but football always gives you back everything you give to football.

"With Kele ill and Jamie has a problem, it was his chance and he took it and he deserved it."

Plymouth Argyle boss Steven Schumacher told BBC Radio Devon:

"We are disappointed with the result, 4-0 is not the scoreline we wanted before the game.

"But I was actually pleased with a lot of aspects of how we played today. I think the performance, the effort and commitment from the players to do what we asked them to do was outstanding.

"In the first half we competed really well with what is the best team in the league at the moment and we got into some brilliant areas and should have scored.

"It should have been level at half-time, but in the second half we have been undone by one moment of quality and a couple of mistakes."

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