Leicester City Vs Norwich City: Canaries win 2-0 at King Power as Foxes slide
In a match that deepened Leicester's troubles, leicester city vs norwich city finished 2-0 at the King Power Stadium as Anis Ben Slimane and Ali Ahmed struck in the second half, a result that stretched Leicester's winless run and strengthened Norwich's push away from the drop.
Ben Slimane and Ahmed settle it after Stolarczyk keeps Foxes in it
Anis Ben Slimane, a second-half substitute, opened the scoring after being fed by Sam Field in the box; the Tunisia midfielder shifted his feet and found the bottom corner for his fifth goal in nine league games. Jakub Stolarczyk, the late stand-in keeper who was drafted in after Asmir Begovic pulled up with an ankle problem in the warm-up, initially kept Norwich at bay with a string of fine saves, including a fingertip stop from Paris Maghoma and another strong stop from Ben Slimane immediately after the substitute came on.
Norwich pressed home their advantage when Errol Mundle-Smith drove the ball across the face of goal and Ali Ahmed reacted first to steer home a close-range finish. Both strikes arrived in the second half and left Leicester rarely threatening thereafter.
King Power struggles and fourth successive home defeat
Resurgent Norwich City made it four home defeats on the bounce for Leicester with the win at the King Power Stadium, while the Foxes have now gone nine Championship games without a victory and remain in the bottom three. Leicester were hurried and ponderous at times — Harry Winks's 25-yard effort almost surprised Vladan Kovacevic, Mathias Kvistgaarden met a Paris Maghoma corner only to head into the side-netting, and centre-backs repeatedly opened space for opponents to exploit.
Paris Maghoma, who probed down the left alongside Ben Chrisene throughout the first half, was taken off just after the hour mark with questions about his match fitness after forcing Stolarczyk into a superb save earlier. Jordan James returned as a substitute after more than five weeks out with an injury, but his comeback did not alter the result.
Rowett's verdict and Enzo Maresca in the stands
Leicester manager Gary Rowett described the display as "very disappointing" and said the team lacked energy and the physical edge required in the Championship, adding that "the two goals sum up this season" because it had been "too easy to score against us. " Former head coach Enzo Maresca watched from the stands as Rowett's unbeaten start as manager came to an end with this fourth successive home loss.
Rowett also noted problems with final passes and composure: Ricardo Pereira's through-ball for Bobby De Cordova-Reid hit the midfielder's heel, Harry Winks overhit a diagonal pass aimed for Luke Thomas, and a Thomas long throw saw Divine Mukasa flick on a cross with no Foxes able to finish as the half ended goalless.
Championship roundup: Coventry, Millwall, Bolton and more
Elsewhere in the Championship, leaders Coventry secured a dramatic 2-1 win over Stoke when Jack Rudoni scored four minutes into second-half stoppage time after Haji Wright had headed Coventry ahead and Ben Gibson had equalised on the stroke of half-time. Rudoni's added-time finish came after an error by the onrushing Tommy Simkin and moved Coventry eight points clear of second-placed Middlesbrough, who travel to Birmingham on Monday. Frank Lampard called the display one of Coventry's best of the season.
Ryan Leonard's 29th-minute curling strike helped Millwall beat Preston 2-0 at Deepdale, with substitute Luke Cundle sealing the win in second-half stoppage time. Bolton ran out 5-1 winners at Exeter: Sam Dalby opened the scoring and Johnny Kenny, Thierry Gale, substitute Ibrahim Sissoko and George Johnston all found the net in the second half.
Cardiff thrashed Doncaster 4-0 with goals from Robertson, Dylan Lawlor, Cian Ashford and Callum Robinson in stoppage time. Lincoln beat Blackpool 4-0 after Conor McGrandle's header and late goals from Rob Street, Dom Jefferies and substitute Ryan One in the final 12 minutes. Stevenage rallied to beat Stockport 2-1 after Adama Sidibeh had put County ahead and Carl Piergianni and Matt Phillips completed the turnaround.
Reading overcame Bradford 2-1 as Matthew Pennington had put the visitors ahead before Paddy Lane equalised in the 90th minute and Matt Ritchie headed a dramatic winner in the sixth minute of stoppage time. Huddersfield slipped to a 1-0 defeat at relegation battlers Wigan, Jensen Weir scoring the decisive goal in the 61st minute, while David McGoldrick's hat-trick fired Barnsley to a 3-1 win at Leyton Orient. Northampton and Peterborough drew 1-1 at Sixfields.
Rotherham boosted their survival hopes with an early Joe Rafferty goal in a 1-0 win over Plymouth. Bottom side Port Vale were held to a 1-1 draw by Luton. Mansfield drew 2-2 with Wimbledon as Jonathan Russell scored twice, and Wycombe beat Burton 3-0.
Leicester's defeat hands Norwich a seventh win in nine league games and eases their early-season relegation fears, while Leicester must address defensive fragility and finishing as they remain in the bottom three. Middlesbrough's trip to Birmingham on Monday is the next confirmed fixture mentioned in the round-up.
