CAPTAIN FANTASTIC Wes Morgan returned to steady the Foxes frayed nerves and restore some of the spirit of their famous 2016 title win.
But it was 19-year-old Luke Thomas – 17 years his junior – who stole the show with a dazzling debut which included an assist for Ayoze Perez’s first half opener.
Ayoze Perez struck in the first half to earn Leicester a crucial winCredit: Getty Images – Getty
That could be good news for Frank Lampard and Chelsea because England left-back Ben Chilwell was barely missed as his teenage understudy came of age here.
The England youth international provided the cool head Leicester lacked as they fell apart at Bournemouth on Sunday to raise fears their Champions’ League dream was slipping away, when he set up Perez to fire the Foxes in front.
And Brendan Rodgers under-fire side never looked back as Morgan breezed it at the back to tame Chris Wilder’s Blades.
Rodgers might even have allowed himself a smug grin when – having been criticised for his substitutions on Sunday – he sent on Demarai Gray who wrapped up three crucial points within three minutes of replacing Harvey Barnes.
That sealed a massive win for Leicester, who breathed new life into their flagging Champions’ League hopes as they held firm in fourth.
Perez fires low past Dean Henderson to boost Leicester’s top four hopesCredit: PA:Press Association
Sheffield United came closest to scoring when John Egan’s header was tipped wide by Kasper Schmeichel in the second half but they seldom threatened and looked leggy after their trouncing of Chelsea..
With key players such as James Maddison and Ben Chilwell missing through injury or – in Caglar Soyuncu’s case a self-inflicted wound called suspension – Brendan Rodgers turned to the extremes of his squad.
Nineteen-year-old Luke Thomas was handed his first senior start at left-wing-back, while at the other end of the scale legendary 2016 title-winning captain Wes Morgan returned to steady Leicester’s listing ship at the tender age of 36.
Chris Wilder followed the tried and trusted motto: ‘If it ain’t broke don’t fix it,’ but lived to regret it.
The home side knew this was going to be no place for the faint-hearted against a Sheffield side as tough as the steel which forged the city’s identity.
But they bounced back from Sunday’s defeat to restore their tarnished reputation.
They rode their luck in the opening skirmish after two minutes when the Blades sliced through their three-man defence only for David McGoldrick to curse his luck as James Justin appeared in the nick of time to deflect the striker’s shot over.
Substitute Demarai Gray made sure of the points with a cool finish in the second halfCredit: Reuters
Having survived that early scare, Leicester went on to dominate.
By half-time Rodgers’ men had almost twice as much possession, fired in nine shots to United’s two – four of which were on target – and forced five corners to the visitors’ one.
If young Thomas was suffering any nerves on his debut then I wouldn’t take him on at poker, because the kid was looking accomplished in everything he did.
He should have had an early assist to boast about on his debut when he swung over a superb cross which picked out Ayoze Perez at the back post but the summer signing from Newcastle headed harmlessly wide when Dean Henderson really should have been picking the ball out of his net.
Golden Boot leader Jamie Vardy looked menacing when he took down a Justin cross in the area.
But his first shot was blocked by Chris Basham and Henderson’s right boot frustrated him when Vardy tried with another snapshot.
Sheffield’s exertions against Chelsea had robbed them of their usual energy but there was a moment of concern when Wilder’s set-piece experts won their first corner.
Brendan Rodgers’ side recovered from the weekend’s collapse against Bournemouth to earn a vital victoryCredit: Kevin Quigley
However Kasper Schmeichel rose to the occasion – literally – as he powered over McGoldrick and McBurnie to clear the danger with a solid punch.
All Leicester needed was a goal to show for their efforts.
Vardy had Henderson scrambling across his line with a sumptuous flick of his right boot but Barnes couldn’t get on the end of it.
Then the busy Blades keeper pushed away a Perez shot and reacted sharply to block Tielemans’ follow-up.
But his time was up just before the half hour as Leicester finally seized the lead.
Once again it was Thomas and Perez who combined to carve open United’s miserly defence.
James Justin fed Perez who found Thomas in space on the left and as the Blades raced back into position the teenager resisted the temptation to swing in an aimless cross.
Instead he picked out Perez with a low delivery and the Spaniard poked the ball through a packed box to find the far corner of the net.
Henderson looked slow to react to suggest he must have been unsighted but it was the breakthrough Rodgers desired as his £30million summer buy paid him back with his eighth goal of the season.
Wilder had seen enough and decided it was broke and he did have to fix it.
He made three changes at half-time, sending on Lys Mousset, Fleck and John Lundstrum for McGoldrick, Osborn and Berge, then Billy Sharp for Basham 14 minutes later.
But it was the home side who had their eyes on the prize and Vardy whacked the post before Henderson defied Barnes with his legs again when the winger should have scored.
However any doubts about the outcome disappeared when Evans sent Vardy haring clear on the left and the striker laid it on a plate for Demarai Gray to sweep the ball beyond Henderson.
Leicester had their lockdown partially lifted earlier in the day – Rodgers will be relieved Sunday’s meltdown was consigned to the past too!
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
