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LEICESTER CONTINUE TO IMPRESS SHAKESPEARE AFTER WIN AGAINST HULL CITY

2 months ago  tobi   Sport News

Leicester City came from behind to beat Hull City as Foxes caretaker boss Craig Shakespeare gained his second win from his two games in charge. The 2015-16 champions went behind when Sam Clucas, who began his career at Leicester, scored from close range from Kamil Grosicki's pull-back. But Christian Fuchs equalised after good work down the left wing from Jamie Vardy. Last season's PFA Player of the Year Riyad Mahrez scored his first league goal since November, a low 18-yard strike, before Tom Huddlestone headed into his own net to seal a deserved victory for Leicester and Shakespeare. Craig Shakespeare is set to hold talks with the club's board next week to discuss whether he should get the manager's job on a full-time basis after the club sacked title-winner Claudio Ranieri last month. And it was another perfect job interview from Shakespeare as he has returned Leicester to playing in a way similar to last season.

They have gone back to basics with a 4-4-2 formation and Jamie Vardy, who was outstanding throughout, given service and able to run on to passes and terrorise the defence with his pace. Mahrez was also given a free role and licence to drop deep and influence the game in a way that led to his 18-goal tally last season. Ranieri will question whether his players stopped playing for him, as this win, with the same group of players, followed a similar 3-1 victory against Liverpool on Monday. Nevertheless, the result eases the Foxes relegation fears - taking them five points above the relegation zone. The only surprise was that Hull took the lead against the run of play after Leicester had wasted three early chances to score. But the Foxes were only behind for 13 minutes when Fuchs finished with a shot from eight yards out after Vardy's pace had created the opportunity down the left flank.

Mahrez jinked to create space on the edge of the penalty area to give Leicester the lead, although Hull goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic will be unhappy at being beaten at his near post with the low strike. Leicester's third goal was more fortunate, with the ball inadvertently bouncing off Hull captain Tom Huddlestone after Wilfred Ndidi flicked on a corner. Hull City manager Marco Silva had no complaints about the result, calling it "fair", but he and the club's supporters will rue a missed chance to go ahead early in the second half when the game was level at 1-1. Centre-half Harry Maguire, tipped for an England call-up by Silva, flicked an effort at goal, and with Foxes goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel beaten, the ball rebounded off the post. Silva has been in charge of Hull since January and, despite winning eight points from his seven Premier League games, has never seen his side out of the relegation zone. They are now four points behind 17th-placed Crystal Palace and face a must-win game next time out when they entertain fellow strugglers Swansea City.