Chelsea enjoyed a comfortable win over a lacklustre Leicester City on Saturday afternoon, even though the scoreline suggested it was a tight encounter. Chelsea could have scored more on the day but will be happy to pick up all three points regardless.
Leicester were major underdogs before the game, even with home advantage, but they’ll feel they let themselves down. The Foxes made a calamitous mistake for Chelsea’s opener and missed a good opportunity to equalise in the first-half, so they’ll feel they wasted their chance.
Jackson gave the Leicester defence nightmares
Chelsea took the lead in the 15th minute through Nicolas Jackson after Wout Faes failed to clear his line. Enzo Fernandez dispossessed the Leicester defender and fed Jackson who brilliantly evaded Caleb Okoli before firing past Mads Hermansen in two touches.
Leicester may feel they were fortunate to not have Wilfred Ndidi sent off for a bad tackle on Cole Palmer, but he only received a yellow. And Ndidi came close to scoring an equaliser before the break, firing a volley wide of the post after being unmarked in the area. He’ll feel he should have done much better.
Chelsea punished Leicester’s missed opportunity
Chelsea had a great chance to double their advantage on the counter, but Cole Palmer’s shot struck Noni Madueke. Jackson tried to curl an effort into the far corner and it was parried in the path of Palmer who had an open goal. Madueke lifted up the wrong leg, however, and blocked his shot.
Chelsea finally scored a second in the last 15 minutes. Fernandez went from creator to goalscorer, wrapping the match up with a header from close range after Hermansen saved Jackson’s initial effort.
Leicester did pull a goal back from the spot after Bobby De Cordova-Reid was brought down in the area. Jordan Ayew scored the penalty, but Leicester had no time to mount a comeback.
