Leicester City comfortably secured their place in the Carabao Cup third round with a 4-0 victory over League Two side Tranmere Rovers at the King Power Stadium, with Wilfred Ndidi among the goal scorers. The Foxes, who made eight changes from their weekend loss to Fulham, took some time to settle but ultimately showcased their Premier League pedigree.
The match began with a subdued atmosphere, as the stadium paid tribute to former Leicester City manager Sven-Göran Eriksson, who passed away on Monday.
A minute of applause in his honour was observed before kick-off. Despite the thin crowd and a disjointed start, Nigel Adkins’ side quickly asserted control over their lower-league opponents.
Leicester’s breakthrough came just before half-time, courtesy of debutant Jordan Ayew.
The Ghanaian international showed his class in the 38th minute, cutting inside from the edge of the box and unleashing a powerful shot that left Tranmere goalkeeper Joe Murphy helpless.
Murphy, the 43-year-old player-coach, had been resilient until that point, making several key saves, but Ayew’s strike finally broke the deadlock.
Tranmere had done well to hold their own for much of the first half, with Murphy making an early diving save to deny Ayew’s long-range effort.
The visitors, despite being unbeaten in League Two, struggled to keep up with Leicester’s increasing pressure as the match wore on.
The Foxes doubled their lead early in the second half when Ricardo Pereira was brought down in the box by Connor Jennings, earning Leicester a penalty.
Stephy Mavididi calmly stepped up and slotted the ball into the bottom-left corner, giving Leicester a two-goal cushion in the 51st minute.
As the second half progressed, Leicester continued to dominate possession and chances.
In the 70th minute, a well-placed pass from Harry Winks was inadvertently deflected by Ayew into the path of Wilfred Ndidi, who made no mistake from close range, adding Leicester’s third goal and putting the match beyond doubt.
Ndidi’s strike was a fitting reward for his impressive display in midfield, and it marked his first goal of the season.
Leicester capped off the evening with a fourth goal just minutes later, as Winks got on the scoresheet himself.
After receiving the ball on the edge of the box following a corner, Winks unleashed a clinical strike that found the back of the net, sealing a comprehensive victory for the Foxes. Leicester showed no signs of easing off, pushing for more goals as they cruised towards the final whistle.
For new Leicester City manager Steve Cooper, the win marked his first competitive victory in charge of the Foxes.
The performance will give the team a much-needed confidence boost after their recent Premier League struggles.
Leicester’s attention will now turn back to the league, but their emphatic display in the Carabao Cup will no doubt raise hopes of a strong cup run this season.
With key players like Ndidi and Winks performing at their best, the Foxes will be eager to build on this momentum as they continue their domestic and cup campaigns.
