Jordan Ayew – on his first start – gave the Foxes a narrow half-time advantage.
Leicester Dominates Tranmere with a Resounding 4-0 Victory in the Carabao Cup
Leicester City cruised into the third round of the Carabao Cup with a commanding 4-0 triumph over Tranmere Rovers at the King Power Stadium. The Foxes, under the leadership of Steve Cooper, displayed their Premier League pedigree in a match that saw them bounce back from their weekend defeat to Fulham with an emphatic performance.
Steve Cooper made significant changes to his squad, introducing eight new faces from the side that lost to Fulham. Despite the initial struggles to find their rhythm, it was Jordan Ayew, making his first start for Leicester, who broke the deadlock, providing the Foxes with a slender lead at halftime.
The second half was a different story as Leicester came out with renewed energy and intent, leaving no doubt about their superiority. Stephy Mavididi extended the lead with a well-taken penalty before Wilfred Ndidi and Harry Winks added to Tranmere's misery, securing Cooper’s first competitive win as Leicester’s manager.
Before the match began, a minute's applause echoed around the stadium as a tribute to former Leicester manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who passed away on Monday. The emotional moment set the tone for what would become a memorable evening for the Foxes.
The match began with a somewhat subdued atmosphere, as a sparsely populated King Power Stadium watched on. Leicester, still finding their feet, took control against a determined Tranmere side, who are currently unbeaten in League Two under Nigel Adkins. Veteran player-coach Joe Murphy, aged 43, took his place between the posts for Tranmere and was called into action after 20 minutes, diving to stop a powerful shot from Ayew.
As the game progressed, Leicester's quality began to shine through. A slick combination play between Harry Winks and Oliver Skipp opened up an opportunity for Ndidi, but his shot missed the target. Tranmere’s resolve held firm for the first 30 minutes, but the pressure was mounting. Skipp found himself one-on-one with Murphy, who again made a crucial save to keep the score level.
However, Tranmere's resistance was finally broken in the 38th minute. Ayew, showing his class, shifted the ball onto his right foot just outside the box and unleashed a powerful shot that Murphy could only partially deflect as it flew into the net.
Leicester continued their dominance in the second half. In the 51st minute, Ricardo Pereira was brought down in the box by Connor Jennings, and Mavididi stepped up to calmly slot the penalty into the bottom-left corner, doubling Leicester’s lead.
The Foxes were in full control by this point, and they were not done yet. A beautifully crafted pass from Winks was flicked on by Ayew into the path of Ndidi, who made no mistake from close range, effectively ending any hopes Tranmere had of a comeback.
Leicester's relentless pursuit of goals continued, and they were rewarded once more. From a corner, Winks found himself with space on the edge of the box and unleashed a powerful shot that rocketed into the net, capping off a perfect night for the home side.
With this comprehensive victory, Leicester not only secured their place in the next round but also sent a clear message that they are a force to be reckoned with in this competition. For Tranmere, it was a harsh reminder of the gulf in class between the divisions, but they can take heart from their spirited performance in the opening half-hour.
