Match Review: Leicester City 1 Boro 2

There were heroes all over the pitch as Michael Carrick's Boro completed a league double over Champions-elect Leicester City.

Two first half goals proved the difference - Finn Azaz and Sam Silvera the scorers - but Carrick's men were fantastic right across the park and the 3,000 magnificent travelling fans were rewarded with a victory that will stay in the memory.

Boro’s injury problems had increased further ahead of the the clash with the runaway league leaders with Hayden Hackney and Jonny Howson the latest to join the casualty list after taking knocks at Preston in midweek.

Luke Thomas was also unavailable due to the terms of his loan deal so Carrick had to shuffle his pack once again. There were starts for Lewis O’Brien, Lukas Engel, Silvera, and Paddy McNair, who took over the captaincy and played on the right of a back three.

The subs bench included Dan Nkrumah, Law McCabe and Luke Woolston.

The first chance of the game fell to the home side, Jannik Vestergaard heading wide of the mark after arriving late at the back post.

Boro responded well, winning a succession of corners, and playing some neat stuff.

And Carrick’s men were rewarded for a very enterprising start when Azaz fired home from close range after 25 minutes. The tireless O’Brien was the provider, racing clear, before pulling the ball back for the January signing to score his second in as many games.

A second goal could have been in the offing when O’Brien raced clear with Silvera in support, but James Justin did well to deny Boro the opportunity.

But it was indeed 2-0 before half-time. Riley McGree was the architect this time before Silvera showed a cool head to finish off and double the advantage.

As expected Leicester started the second half on the front foot, but in doing so, there was always a chance that they could leave themselves open on the break. And so it proved when McGree set Silvera free again, but this time an offside flag was raised.

Azaz also released McGree, but the Aussie’s touch was just too far in the face of an onrushing Mads Hermansen.

Azaz then won a free-kick on the edge of the box after being picked out by Luke Ayling when Boro countered again after some stoic defending at the other end. McGree shaved the outside of the post with the set play.

Silvera was next to go close when he looked to chip Hermansen after some great work by Azaz to win possession in the Boro half.

In between these Boro attacks there was some fabulous defending right across the line. Ayling and Engel were excellent while the central three of Rav van den Berg, Matt Clarke, and McNair were terrific.

With 15 minutes remaining, van den Berg denied Leicester a goal with a terrific clearance that more than summed up Boro’s attitude at the King Power.

And when Leicester did find space, Jamie Vardy somehow fired over the top from close range. But with five minutes left on the clock, the former England striker set up a tense finale when he latched on to a ball over the top and showed all his quality with a precise finish to reduce the arrears.