Leicester City further boosted their hopes of an immediate Premier League return on Monday, beating Wayne Rooney’s Birmingham City 3-2 at St Andrew’s to go three points clear at the top of the Championship.
Much of the build-up to the game centred on a possible meeting between Rooney and Jamie Vardy after a dispute between their respective wives Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy – dubbed the ‘Wagatha Christie’ affair – culminated in a libel case last year.
A knee injury kept Vardy out of Monday’s trip across the Midlands, but the Foxes coped just fine without him, winger Stephy Mavididi scoring twice as they moved three points ahead of Ipswich Town and 13 clear of third-placed Leeds United.
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Leicester almost fell behind 10 minutes in when James Justin hit his own post from a Birmingham corner. Instead, they hit the front seconds later as a rapid counterattack ended with Mavididi flicking a finish over John Ruddy with the outside of his boot.
Birmingham levelled within four minutes as Jordan James turned to tuck a shot into the bottom-left corner, but Leicester re-established their lead after 21 minutes as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall raced onto Abdul Fatawu’s pass before rounding Ruddy and converting into an empty net.
The leaders went 3-1 up just five minutes into the second half when Mavididi cut inside to curl a fine finish into the far corner, though Birmingham ensured a nervous finish with 16 minutes to play.
James joined Mavididi in doubling up as his prodded attempt looped in off Jannik Vestergaard, but the Blues failed to carve out a clear-cut chance to level, with Leicester going closest to another goal when the unmarked Cesare Casadei shot wide in stoppage time.
We keep moving! ????
Delivered by @KingPowerhq #BIRLEI pic.twitter.com/4qOhFqPuW2
— Leicester City (@LCFC) December 18, 2023
