Leicester City 3-1 Norwich City: Foxes earn important win in promotion race
- Published
- comments
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's goal was his 11th of the season for Leicester
Leicester City got their Championship promotion charge back on track with a come-from-behind victory over in-form Norwich at the King Power Stadium.
Gabriel Sara gave the Canaries the lead after 20 minutes and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall responded 13 minutes later from close range.
Stephy Mavididi put Leicester in front after the break with a clever finish after beating Jack Stacey and Jamie Vardy added a third in stoppage time to seal it.
The victory was only the third in eight league games for the Foxes, who remained third after wins for Ipswich and Leeds, and ended a run of three wins in a row for David Wagner's Norwich.
Norwich went ahead with their first shot of the game as Sara slotted Marcelino Nunez's corner home from two yards out after Ben Gibson created space at the near post.
But just past the half-hour mark, Dewsbury-Hall levelled when Wilfred Ndidi's deep cross was headed back across goal by Mavididi, and the midfielder nodded home for his first goal in 10 games.
Nerves lifted for the hosts from then on and moments later, Harry Winks fired straight at Angus Gunn after Abdul Fatawu's superb driving run and cross from the right.
Norwich almost gifted Leicester a second after the break when Sam McCullum misjudged a header back to Gunn, only for Patson Daka to squander the finish.
The pressure finally told on the hour when Mavididi made it 2-1 after Norwich gave the ball away high up the pitch. Fatawu found Dewsbury-Hall, who returned the earlier favour and set up the winger for his 12th goal of the season.
Norwich were on the ropes, but they almost levelled 20 minutes from time when Stacey cut inside on the right, but his shot went the wrong side of the post.
Vardy came off the bench and made sure of the win at the end, slamming home at the back post after Winks' effort deflected into his path.
Leicester were back to their dominant, vibrant best after a shaky start, with a return to form for Dewsbury-Hall and Mavididi crucial heading into the run-in and they will be at home again, against Birmingham City, on Saturday, with Norwich hosting Ipswich in the East Anglia derby.
Leicester boss Enzo Maresca told BBC Radio Leicester:
"I'm very happy, first of all because it was important to win the game. Second, for different reasons in the last six or seven games, we haven't won many.
"It was important to win and they showed they were mentally strong because they went 1-0 down and that is not easy. The reaction was fantastic.
"Until the end, every game will be important. I don't think [losing to Bristol City] added pressure. The only thing we can do is focus game by game.
"I'm especially happy because the players continued to play in the same way despite the noise. They really believe in that, and the reward is the three points."
Norwich City head coach David Wagner told BBC Radio Norfolk:
"Without possession, the players put in a shift and were well organised. Defensively we were OK, so there were some positives.
"But, in possession, we were below par. It's disappointing. Too many players were not as good with their movement, technique and their touches.
"You have to put your passes together, have to show bravery, have to show the quality - even under pressure - to make something happen.
"We know that we are better than this - the guys have shown it in recent weeks and months. Very quickly we will put this to bed and move on to the next game with the knowledge of what we have to do."