Sheffield United were poor today in their 2-0 defeat to Leicester City, with Ayoze Perez and Demarai Gray netting for the Foxes.
It was a rather slow opening 10 minutes, with the best chance going to Perez who headed over after a cross from Luke Thomas on the left.
On 11 minutes, Leicester City frontman Jamie Vardy had a chance from close range but it was the outstretched leg of Dean Henderson that pushed the ball wide, the Sheffield goalkeeper caught the following long-range effort from Youri Tielemans without real difficulty.
Leicester put on some real pressure, balls into the box, left and right and the peaked cap sporting Henderson was needed on numerous occasions, most notably when Perez’s attempted volley needed to be pushed away.
Leicester City were the side in control and just needed something to show for it.
It came just before the half-hour mark, debutant Thomas found Perez again, near the penalty spot, who managed to hit one into the bottom left, passed the outstretched hand of a diving Henderson.
Sheffield did their best to respond, getting balls into the box, winning set-pieces and maintaining high pressure when they lost the ball, but to no avail.
One of the better chances for the Blades was closer to half-time when Oli Norwood whipped a cross into the middle, but it was just out of reach for David McGoldrick and the ball rolled out of play on the other side.
No more action in the first half and Leicester went into the break leading by one.
Chris Wilder was evidently unimpressed with his sides first-half showing making three changes at the restart in the form of John Lundstram, John Fleck and Lys Mousset.
Leicester had an opportunity to double their lead when Tielemans sent Vardy through with a fantastic through ball, but the number nine rifled his shot against the goalpost with his left.
The Blades start to the second half was solid though, more lively play, which resulted in more balls into the box. None led to any real chances but it was better than the first 45 minutes.
Harvey Barnes had a good chance for Leicester off the counter-attack. 56 minutes in, Barnes had a go from a few yards out but was off-balance. It still needed saving though and Dean Henderson got behind it to save.
Five minutes later, Vardy – who set up Barnes previous chance, found Barnes again. But he was denied once more by the United keeper, who got down well to keep it out.
Leicester’s Kasper Schmeichel was finally called into action in the second half. A Sheffield United corner found John Egan, who’s header was deflected, forcing the keeper to dive to his left and push it away, but only for another corner as the Blades began to put the pressure on.
United skipper Billy Sharp’s fresh legs began working hard, giving the ball up on the right side before receiving it again on the left, but his cross only found Leicester City defenders.
It was counter-attacking play Leicester were relying on for chances in the second half, and once again after a Jamie Vardy ball through, Henderson was called into action, denying Tielemans.
Nearly 10 minutes from full-time, another Leicester City counter finally gave Jamie Vardy his assist, when the fresh-legged Demarai Gray slotted the ball into the bottom left. Sheffield’s inability to make the most of the periods when they were dominating the play has cost them.
It was an uneventful game after Gray’s goal, and in the end, Leicester walked away the comfortable victors.
Sheffield United: Henderson; Stevens, Basham (Sharp 58’), Egan, O’Connell, Baldock; Berge (Lundstram 45’), Norwood, Osborn (Fleck 45’); McBurnie, McGoldrick (Mousset 45’)
Leicester City: Schmeichel; Bennett, Morgan, Evans, Justin; Ndidi, Tielemans, Thomas; Perez (Choudhury 71’), Vardy, Barnes (Gray 76’)
Bookings: Sheffield United: Egan (81’), Fleck (92’)
Leicester City: Evans (75’)
Red Cards: Sheffield United: None
Leicester City: None
Scorers: Sheffield United: None
Leicester City: Perez (29’), Gray (79’)
HT: 1-0
FT: 2-0
Referee: Micheal Oliver
Man of the Match: Jamie Vardy
Report: Blades disappointing as Foxes strengthen grip on Champions League
