Brendan Rodgers shower praises on midfielder after a super 2-0 victory over Leeds

Harvey Barnes continued to torment Leeds as he inspired Leicester to a crucial victory that rekindled their survival hopes.

The winger scored his sixth goal in six games against United, helping the Foxes to a 2-0 victory and relieving some of the pressure on manager Brendan Rodgers.

He added to Robin Koch’s early own goal to give the Foxes a point ahead of their trip to fellow strugglers Wolves on Sunday.

While they remain in the bottom three, victory lifted Leicester off the foot of the table and gives Rodgers time in a week which has the potential to shape the Foxes’ season.

 

The defeat extended Leeds’ winless run to seven and they are now just a point above the Foxes and only out of the drop zone on goal difference.

Jesse Marsch has seen his side slowly slip down the table and he faced the wrath of furious traveling support following what was, ultimately, a meek surrender.

Needing a result, Rodgers recalled Jamie Vardy for just his second start since the beginning of September.

The striker, without a goal this season, is in his worst barren spell for six years but the Foxes did not have to wait long for the opener, which arrived after 16 minutes.

Leeds was arguably the brighter side but Leicester seized on some sloppy defending when Dennis Praet robbed Marc Roca.

Referee Peter Bankes played a good advantage after Vardy was clobbered, allowing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to send Praet down the right. His low cross was intended for the unmarked Barnes but Koch slid in and only succeeded in poking the ball beyond the stranded Illan Meslier.

The visitors responded well and when Youri Tielemans’ shot was charged down Luis Sinisterra launched a quick break with the Foxes’ defenders in desperate pursuit.

The forward appeared to lose the ball on the edge of the area but it fell kindly for him to curl onto the top of the bar.

A minute later Crysencio Summerville curled wide and Leicester briefly looked ragged until Barnes made it 2-0 10 minutes before the break.

Excellent work from Praet won the ball, which rolled for Vardy to backheel to Dewsbury-Hall on the edge of the area. He found the unmarked Barnes and the winger steered his third goal of the season under an exposed Meslier.

Despite the lead, Leicester failed to completely convince during a first half in which Leeds wasted chances and Danny Ward had to block Liam Cooper’s effort seven minutes after the restart.

Rasmus Kristensen scored, but Leeds’ response faded quickly, and they never threatened Leicester, who had rediscovered their resolve.

Praet collapsed, but a third goal was never required, as the Foxes and Rodgers secured a much-needed victory.