Leicester cruised into the next round of the League Cup following a routine 2-0 win at Macclesfield on a pleasant summer evening in the Peak District. Dany N’Guessan and Matty Fryatt scored second-half goals to give City a well-deserved victory.
Steve Howard was an early threat for the visitors and could have marked his first goal of the season on numerous occasions with various headed efforts and shots sailing wide or straight at Macclesfield keeper Jon Brain. Matt Oakley hit the woodwork with a volley and Richie Wellens fired just wide from an excellent position as City dominated. Chris Weale in the Leicester goal was largely untroubled despite the home side’s impressive pressing and attempts at counter-attacking.
City’s full-backs Luke O’Neill and Chris Powell were streaming forward at every opportunity to support the attack and Nicky Adams and Dany N’Guessan were willing inside runners.
After 58 minutes, Oakley’s long throw was knocked down by Howard and N’Guessan eventually turned the ball into the corner of the net with his heel. Within a quarter of an hour it was two, Fryatt latching onto a long ball and running half the length of the pitch before turning his marker inside out and crashing the ball into the roof of the net with his unfavoured left foot.
Leicester travel to Preston North End in the next round.
Player Ratings
Chris Weale
Nothing much to do – 6
Luke O’Neill
Assured display from a young player with a big future – 7
Chris Powell
Superb overlapping and possession play at left-back – 8
Jack Hobbs
Untroubled at the back but classy in possession – 7
Michael Morrison
Distribution is improving, looked confident – 7
Richie Wellens
Battled well when he needed to and did well to retain possession in a crowded midfield – 7
Matt Oakley
Looked in control and provided some impressive late bursts towards the opposition box – 7
Nicky Adams
Will be a valuable asset from the bench this season if this form continues, probed well and was unfortunate not to create a goal – 7
Dany N’Guessan
Quiet for some periods but provides much-needed pace and power in midfield and made the vital breakthrough – 7
Matty Fryatt
Willing runner despite his lack of fitness and scored a very fine goal – 7
Steve Howard
Superb aerially as always, providing an outlet at all times and linking play well – 7
Max Gradel
Injection of pace down the right in the second half – 6
Martyn Waghorn
Almost scored a superb goal after tricky play on the by-line, a player City fans are warming to very quickly – 6
