Leaders Leicester break away record with comeback win at Swansea

Posted Sunday, October 22, 2023 by PA

Championship leaders Leicester came from behind to beat Swansea 3-1 and make history by becoming the first ever side in the second tier to win their opening six away matches of a league campaign.

Matt Grimes volleyed home his third goal of the season to put Swansea ahead in the 20th minute.

Jannik Vestergaard and Abdul Fatawu responded with their first goals for Leicester in the 43rd and 63rd minutes respectively before Kelechi Iheanacho bagged his side’s third in the closing stages as the Foxes made it 11 victories from 12 games this term – ending Swansea’s four-game winning run in the process.

The visitors carried the greater threat in the opening stages, with 10-cap England midfielder Harry Winks guiding a speculative effort over.

But it was Swansea who took the lead as Wout Faes could only head Jamie Paterson’s corner to the edge of the box where Grimes was on hand to spectacularly volley beyond Mads Hermansen.

It was only the seventh goal Leicester had conceded in the league this season, and one that typified the confidence Swansea have shown in the final third of late.

Enzo Maresca’s side looked angered after going behind and immediately set about levelling proceedings.

Wilfred Ndidi’s passed effort skimmed wide of Carl Rushworth’s post before Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall headed straight at the Brighton loanee.

The away side’s domination allowed the Foxes to push high up the pitch, although that in turn left spaces in behind for Swansea to exploit.

As a result, Paterson pipped Vestergaard to a loose ball before being challenged by goalkeeper Hermansen outside the box which prompted Jerry Yates into shooting from 45 yards out with the goal left unguarded, only for his effort to sail over the crossbar.

Leicester’s pressure told just before the break, though, as the Swans were unable to clear Stephy Mavididi’s cross, with the loose ball from Ndidi’s shot ending up striking Vestergaard and trickling into the net.

Michael Duff’s side very nearly regained the lead in added time at the end of the opening half as Liam Cullen’s sweetly-struck effort was tipped on to the crossbar by Hermansen, with Harry Darling heading on to the roof of the net from the resulting corner as the game remained level at half-time.

Dewsbury-Hall drilled at Rushworth 30 seconds after the restart as the league leaders looked intent on ensuring their winning run continued while Mavididi fired wide in what had become a more cagey affair.

Leicester went in front just after the hour mark as Ndidi left Dewsbury-Hall’s cross for Fatawu to stroke home.

Swansea pushed for an equaliser, and after Paterson had a shot blocked, Jamal Lowe was brilliantly denied by Hermansen.

But substitute Iheanacho rounded off the visitors’ victory four minutes from time as he coolly slotted the ball beyond Rushworth to ensure Maresca’s men remain at the summit.