Jamie Vardy scored twice in the second half to help Leicester edge past Fulham
Brendan Rodgers secured his first win as Leicester City manager to push Fulham closer to relegation, as Jamie Vardy reached a century of goals for the Foxes.
Rodgers - who started with a defeat at Watford after his switch from Celtic - was afforded a warm reception from fans at the King Power Stadium before kick-off and they were able to celebrate with a victory.
Vardy was the key figure throughout, unselfishly setting up a simple first-half finish for Youri Tielemans before rising to the occasion after substitute Floyd Ayite's scrappy equaliser for the Cottagers after the break.
He raced on to James Maddison's perfect through ball to put Leicester back in front with 12 minutes left, then got his 100th goal for the club when he turned a finish past Sergio Rico after 86 minutes.
Fulham, under the interim management of Scott Parker, had no answer and this is a defeat that leaves them cut adrift from safety and surely on their way back into the Championship after just one season in the top flight.
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Relive Leicester's win over Fulham
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Vardy shows importance
Vardy's relationship with Claude Puel was always a bone of contention before the Frenchman's sacking - but he has demonstrated his continued importance in the first two games of the Rodgers era.
Vardy and Puel always seemed ill at ease and it looked like the coach never fully trusted the former England striker in his preferred style.
Here, and indeed when he scored in Rodgers' first game at Watford, Vardy has made the sort of impact that means he will figure prominently as the new manager formulates his early plans.
Another stylish performer was Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans, on loan from Monaco, and he is the sort of player Rodgers relishes having.
The 21-year-old ran the show in the first half, not just scoring a relatively simple goal but demonstrating the sort of vision that will make him a hot property whether he stays at Leicester or not.
Rodgers was beaming at the final whistle, delighted to get those first three points on the board.
More to follow...
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Leicester
1Schmeichel
14Ricardo Pereira
6Evans
15Maguire
3Chilwell
21TielemansSubstituted forGhezzalat 72'minutes
25Ndidi
7GraySubstituted forOkazakiat 72'minutes
10MaddisonSubstituted forMendyat 81'minutes
19Barnes
9Vardy
Substitutes
5Morgan
8Iheanacho
12Ward
20Okazaki
24Mendy
28Fuchs
31Ghezzal
Fulham
25Rico
4Odoi
16Nordtveit
13Ream
23BryanBooked at 60mins
5Chambers
6McDonaldSubstituted forViettoat 82'minutes
10Cairney
12BabelBooked at 55minsSubstituted forSeriat 67'minutes
9Mitrovic
3R SessegnonSubstituted forAyitéat 45'minutes
Substitutes
11Ayité
19Vietto
20Le Marchand
22Christie
24Seri
29Zambo Anguissa
31Fabri
Referee:
David Coote
Attendance:
32,017
Match Stats
Home TeamLeicesterAway TeamFulham
Possession
Home53%
Away47%
Shots
Home18
Away6
Shots on Target
Home8
Away3
Corners
Home6
Away5
Fouls
Home9
Away13
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Leicester City 3, Fulham 1.
Full TimePosted at 90'+5'
Second Half ends, Leicester City 3, Fulham 1.
Posted at 90'+2'
Attempt blocked. Tom Cairney (Fulham) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Luciano Vietto.
Posted at 90'+1'
Foul by Jonny Evans (Leicester City).
Posted at 90'+1'
Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'
Nampalys Mendy (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'
Foul by Floyd Ayité (Fulham).
Posted at 88'
Attempt blocked. Harvey Barnes (Leicester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ben Chilwell.
Posted at 87'
Offside, Fulham. Håvard Nordtveit tries a through ball, but Aleksandar Mitrovic is caught offside.
Goal!Posted at 86'
Goal! Leicester City 3, Fulham 1. Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Harvey Barnes.
Posted at 84'
Attempt missed. Nampalys Mendy (Leicester City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Ben Chilwell.
Posted at 83'
Attempt saved. Shinji Okazaki (Leicester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Ricardo Pereira.
SubstitutionPosted at 82'
Substitution, Fulham. Luciano Vietto replaces Kevin McDonald.
SubstitutionPosted at 81'
Substitution, Leicester City. Nampalys Mendy replaces James Maddison.
Posted at 80'
Foul by Shinji Okazaki (Leicester City).
Posted at 80'
Floyd Ayité (Fulham) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Goal!Posted at 78'
Goal! Leicester City 2, Fulham 1. Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by James Maddison with a through ball following a fast break.
Posted at 76'
Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Jonny Evans.
Posted at 74'
Attempt saved. Joe Bryan (Fulham) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Tom Cairney.
Posted at 73'
Ricardo Pereira (Leicester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 73'
Foul by Tom Cairney (Fulham).
SubstitutionPosted at 72'
Substitution, Leicester City. Rachid Ghezzal replaces Youri Tielemans.
SubstitutionPosted at 72'
Substitution, Leicester City. Shinji Okazaki replaces Demarai Gray.
Posted at 68'
Corner, Fulham. Conceded by Kasper Schmeichel.
Posted at 68'
Attempt saved. Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Joe Bryan with a cross.
Posted at 68'
Foul by Harry Maguire (Leicester City).
Posted at 68'
Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
SubstitutionPosted at 67'
Substitution, Fulham. Jean Michael Seri replaces Ryan Babel.
Posted at 66'
Attempt missed. Ryan Babel (Fulham) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Tom Cairney.
Posted at 64'
Foul by Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City).
Posted at 64'
Floyd Ayité (Fulham) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 63'
Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Sergio Rico.
Posted at 63'
Attempt saved. Harvey Barnes (Leicester City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ben Chilwell.
Posted at 62'
Attempt blocked. Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Floyd Ayité.
Posted at 60'
Foul by Demarai Gray (Leicester City).
Posted at 60'
Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
BookingPosted at 60'
Joe Bryan (Fulham) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 59'
Demarai Gray (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 59'
Foul by Joe Bryan (Fulham).
Posted at 59'
Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Source: bbc.com