Ayew scores on debut …as Leicester City sweep aside Tranmere Rovers
Leicester City delivered a dominant performance to beat League Two Tranmere Rovers and reach the third round of the Carabao Cup.
Jordan Ayew making his first start for the Premier League side – broke Rovers’ resistance late in the first half, cutting on to his right foot on the edge of the box before thumping a fierce effort past 43-year-old goalkeeper Joe Murphy.
The hosts doubled their lead five minutes into the second half, Stephy Mavididi finding the bottom corner from the penalty spot after Connor Jennings had fouled Ricardo Pereira inside the area.
Wilfred Ndidi added a third when he poked the ball past Murphy at the end of a slick move involving Ayew and Harry Winks, before Winks completed the scoring with a low drive.
Murphy, who featured in Tranmere’s 2-1 League Cup final defeat by Leicester in 2000, was kept busy prior to Ayew’s opener, palming away the Ghanaian’s long-range drive before denying Oliver Skipp in a one-on-one.
The lively Ndidi also dragged a low shot narrowly wide of the far post in a one-sided first period at King Power Stadium.
Mavididi’s penalty all but ended Tranmere’s hopes of an unlikely turnaround, but Leicester continued to pile forward and increased their lead when Ndidi got the goal his performance deserved.
Cameron Norman came closest to a consolation for the visitors, dragging a low shot wide of Danny Ward’s goal in the final 10 minutes.
Kristian Dennis also sent a powerful shot off target as Nigel Adkins’ team finished strongly, but Winks had the final say.
A minute’s applause was held before the game in memory of former England and Leicester manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who passed away on Monday.-BBC
