Newly promoted Leicester defied the critics predicting their swift return to the First Division by thrashing a poor Leeds side 4-0 in Leicester on Monday.
A wonderful volley from Frenchman Lilian Nalis, a strike on the turn from Paul Dickov, along with a skilfully curled second goal, and a header from the unmarked James Scowcroft secured Leicester’s first Premiership win of the season.
They could easily have scored another, as Ben Thatcher hit the crossbar with a header from a second-half corner.
Leicester showed impressive finishing, but Leeds manager Peter Reid was furious at the lack of aggression from his listless side.
”Football is not rocket science, it’s about attitude and they had a lot more of it than we did. Sadly we were lacking in every department,” said Reid.
Leicester manager Micky Adams said he had enjoyed a ”terrific” performance.
”I would have taken any win tonight because this has given us a real confidence boost before we go to Anfield and then Manchester United the week after,” he said.
Adams praised Nalis, who joined the club this year, but joked about his first-time volley that he had ”just tried to explain to him what fluke is in English”.
World Cup winner Roque Junior made his Leeds debut just three days after joining up with the side after international duty with Brazil, but he was clearly tired and found it hard to adjust to Premiership life.
Leicester had already come close when Gerry Taggart’s close-range attempt was blocked by the head of Leeds keeper Paul Robinson. From the resulting corner Thatcher headed narrowly over the bar.
Then came Frenchman Nalis’s wonder goal. He connected with a header out of the Leeds defence and the volley from way outside the penalty area arced over Paul Robinson’s dive with 20 minutes gone at the Walker’s Stadium.
Three minutes later, poor defending from Gary Kelly allowed Dickov to chest the ball down and fire in a shot on the turn past Paul Robinson.
Jermaine Pennant tried to give Leeds options from the right wing but he and his teammates misfired continually.
The second half began in the same vein, with a long ball setting Marcus Bent off on a solitary course for goal but Robinson rushed off his line and headed the ball away. Bent should have done better with a header minutes later.
Roque Junior appeared fortunate to escape with a yellow card when he pulled back Bent. The Brazilian was later substituted.
Dickov’s second goal followed a flowing move that ended with a well-placed shot beyond Robinson’s reach and Scowcroft leaped to head in the fourth, almost unchallenged by Leeds defenders. — Sapa-AFP