YOURI TIELEMANS added another screamer to his growing collection as Leicester nicked three points off plucky Brentford.
The Foxes’ Belgian playmaker lashed home a stunning 25-yard piledriver on the half volley on 14 minutes against the run of play.
The Bees fought back and got their deserved equaliser on the hour mark through Zanka’s header.
But a stunning counter attack in the 75th minute saw James Maddison grab the winner with his first goal since February.
Leicester now have back-to-back wins in the Premier League for the first time this season – and for the first time since April – lifting them into the top half of the table.
Not that they deserved to beat Brentford, who dominated the majority of the match but – like against Chelsea last week – they failed to convert a whole host of chances.
Thomas Frank’s men have lost two home games on the spin for the first time since November 2018.
Both sides were unchanged following differing results last week – Leicester beating Manchester United 4-2 and Brentford losing 1-0 to Chelsea.
Yet it was the hosts who were the ones full of confidence for the majority of the half.
In the opening two minutes they could have been ahead after another long-throw routine – this time by Zanka – caused chaos in the Leicester box.
It ended with Christian Norgaard’s overhead kick being tipped wide by Kasper Schmeichel.
The Foxes were attempting to match Brentford’s highly successful and effective 3-5-2 system but were coming off second best.
This was typified when wing-back Rico Henry was given too much space down the flank by Ricardo Periera and cut inside before delivering a low cross towards the back post.
Ivan Toney tapped into an empty net but it was ruled out after Henry appeared to be offside in the build-up.
Brentford continued to push forward, however, and had Leicester pinned back as Toney and Bryan Mbeumo wasted good opportunities.
And then came a thunderbolt by Tielemans out of the blue for the men in blue.
Maddison’s quick free-kick over the top was headed away by Henry and Tielemans decided to hit it first time with devastating effect.
It seems Tielemans only scores belters these days after his rocket in the FA Cup final against Chelsea and superb finish last weekend against United.
But even that failed to wake up Brendan Rodgers’ men – and Toney almost levelled the scores before the break but for a fingertip save by Schmeichel from a header.
Both managers made changes at the break. Kristoffer Ajer replaced Ethan Pinnock for the Bees.
Jamie Vardy was brought off for Patson Daka with the Foxes talisman later spotted with strapping on his right knee.
The change didn’t alter Leicester’s flat approach to the game, allowing Brentford to equalise in the 62nd minute thanks to Zanka’s flicked header from a near-post corner delivery.
A winner was only looking likely to come from the hosts – but the Bees were stung once more with a smash-and-grab Foxes goal.
Schmeichel’s quick delivery with his boot found Kelechi Iheanacho as Brentford’s defence for the first time in the game was unorganised.
Iheanacho teed up an onrushing Tielemans, whose beautiful first-time pass put Daka through on goal.
But the Zambian – who netted four against Spartak Moscow in midweek – unselfishly squared it to Maddison for the easiest of finishes.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
