City Kick Off New Year With Comfortable Huddersfield Victory

Leicester City defeated Huddersfield Town 4-1 on New Year’s Day at King Power Stadium thanks to a brace from Tom Cannon.

Together with a header from Ricardo Pereira and a free kick from Stephy Mavididi, the 21-year-old’s first goals for the Foxes on his complete debut allowed the table-toppers to safely take home three more Sky Bet Championship points. With 78 possible points, that is currently 65. There’s no slowing down this Leicester train.

Cesare Casadei, Yunus Akgün, Cannon, and Ricardo were the four players that changed from the Foxes’ 2-0 success over Cardiff City three days prior. Ricardo also assumed the armband for the team. Arriving after a close loss to Middlesbrough on Friday, the Terriers, who were hovering barely above the relegation zone before kickoff, presented a tough test in the first few minutes of play.

Ricardo narrowly missed City’s captain as Jannik Vestergaard’s raking ball from the half-way mark skidded out for a goal-kick. There was an early indication that the guests could be accessed from above, but there weren’t many chances that were obvious. Given how many games both teams have played over the holiday season—a fourth game in nine days for Enzo Maresca’s team—the muted start was not surprising.

Ben Wiles received Sorba Thomas’s cross after the midfielder was sent off down the Huddersfield left, but Wiles was unable to maintain his effort. Town’s defenses were also on high alert. A signature Mavididi effort from the left was blocked by Rarmani Edmonds-Green, who was attempting to duplicate his spectacular goal at Ipswich Town.

Halfway through the half, more Mavididi magic saw the winger tangle with David Kasumu before Tom Lees seemed to bring the Leicester man to the ground inside the area. Referee Sam Allison, however, waived away mute penalty appeals.

After Ricardo flicked on James Justin’s cross, Cannon produced a magnificent first-time strike that found the bottom corner to break the tie. It arrived just before halftime, and as the first forty-five minutes of play came to an end, Abdul Fatawu cut inside and shot directly at Lee Nicholls, setting up an even more dominant finish to the half.

Just as the Foxes supporters were settling in for the second half, Fatawu sent the ball to Justin, whose precise cross found Ricardo, who leaped up and nodded into the opposite corner to double the lead. An additional goal to supplement the Portuguese defender’s first-half assist.

In pursuit of a more comfortable score, Wout Faes connected with Akgün, the Turkey international twisting to open up space for a shot that he missed. After that, Fatawu took aim and appeared to have a goal with his left-footed curler, but Loick Ayina, a replacement, dived in to deflect the ball behind.

When Cannon fired past Nicholls for City’s third goal, the former Everton player was robbed of a brace by the offside call. Not in a matter of minutes. Before Harry Winks chipped the pass to Cannon, who calmly slotted home after beating the offside trap, Vestergaard and Yunus were involved in the move.

However, until Thomas’ cross found Jack Rudoni in the middle, Darren Moore’s team hadn’t really threatened. The midfielder was unable to test Mads Hermansen, instead hitting past the post. The Town captain Michał Helik struck home from close range to cut the lead after the Thomas corner was initially given to Lees, but the Dane was unable to stop David Kasumu’s effort with a quick diving save.

But Darren Moore’s side hadn’t really threatened until Thomas’ cross reached Jack Rudoni in the middle. The midfielder hit past the post instead of testing Mads Hermansen. After Lees was awarded the Thomas corner, Town captain Michał Helik scored from close range to narrow the deficit, but the Dane was unable to stop David Kasumu’s effort with a fast diving save.

To the delight of the Blue Army, Callum Doyle and Marc Albrighton made their injury comebacks, and both played significant roles from the bench in the closing minutes. Doyle intervened defensively after Koroma struck the crossbar, blocking Kasumu’s attempt as Huddersfield looked for a way to get back into the game, while Ricardo had a chance to score three goals but was unable to do so after blazing over in the closing minutes after Albrighton’s cross went wide.

Winks and Casadei attempted to score a fifth during stoppage time, but City had to settle for four goals instead. Following an Emirates FA Cup match at Millwall, Coventry City will visit Ipswich Town a week on Saturday, opening a 10-point deficit.