It was a battle of two relegation-bound teams, separated by a classic performance by Leicester City, who secured their first victory of the season. The victory has pushed Leicester City to the 19th spot while Nottingham Forest dropped to the bottom of the table.
Brendan Rodgers stirred the waves and made headlines with his wild celebration in the technical area as the goals flew in one after the other in the East Midlands derby.
The reverse happened for Steve Cooper, as the Forest manager knew that his days at the club is certainly numbered after the club sunk huge funds to recruit a record number of legs but had nothing to show for it after eight matches.
Brendan Rodgers, at least, reclaimed some narrow control over mounting pressure as he impressed Leicester owner Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha, who ominously flew in to watch the match.
At least, the Foxes’ performance offers the assurance of the club’s survival chances this season, with James Maddison deserving the accolades after bagging a brace to complicate matters for Steve Cooper.
The win saw off the 2016 Premier League champions from the bottom of the Premier League table for the first time this season.
The Foxes exchanged their position for the opponent team, who have managed just four points in 8 matches.
While the Foxes celebrated the triumph and renewed hope, Nottingham Forest battled desperation and mounting pressure.
It is strange that Steve Cooper is still keeping his job, despite the £150m that the club sank into the team in the just concluded summer transfer window to bring in a record 23 new players.
Forest, Evangelos Marinakis, is known to be an impatient one. Cooper was appointed manager by Evangelos when Nottingham Forest struggled, in the same manner, a year ago.
Whatever the mood at the other was not of interest to Leicester City. The Foxes won the game and got all three points, doing it emphatically.
A surge of confidence which appeared to have been lost has finally returned, and Brendan Rodgers’ men can be tipped to put off their abysmal start and begin a new one in subsequent games.
Noteworthy in the match was the brilliant performance and great work by James Maddison, who has been prolific despite a poor run of results prior to the Nottingham Forest game.
The England star registered his name in all the four goals scored by the Foxes in the match.
Maddison scored the first goal before assisting Barnes to double the lead. He also scored the third goal through a 25-yard free-kick and delivered a great assist to Daka to help the Foxes sink Forests 4-0.
James Maddison’s World Cup chances
Maddison was the uncontested winner of the man of the match against Nottingham Forest.
He brought his class to bear, but the last time he featured for the Three Lions Of England was in 2019.
Since then, making headway into Gareth Southgate’s squad has proven difficult. Hence, his World Cup chances remain slim.
If he had a chance, then being called up for the last round of the just-concluded UEFA Nations League matches would have been feasible. Unfortunately, that did not happen.
Calls from prominent English pundits and fans may start echoing through, but it is very unlikely that Maddison will make Southgate’s World Cup squad.
What happened in the East Midlands Derby?
For the first time this season, Leicester City confidently dominated play and dragged their opponent to ruins.
The Foxes last played Nottingham Forest in 2014, and the two sides have shown nothing but utmost hostility in their derby games.
Heavy security presence is always deployed on both sides of the stand to check simmering tensions that may likely spill into the field of play, disrupting the match.
Forest would have taken the lead and saved the game for Madison’s subsequent equalizer when Nigeria international Taiwo Awoniyi hit the post from Gibbs-White threaded pass.
James Maddison later put Leicester City ahead after his shot deflected off Scot McKenna.
Maddison’s deflected shot would have been an equalizer if Taiwo Awoniyi’s attempt had gone through.
Former Manchester United forward Jesse Lingard committed a blunder that resulted in the second goal.
Poor clearance of Barne’s cross fell to James Maddison, who created another chance for Leicester City to find their second.
The goal left Cooper shell-shocked as a possible come-back was far from the horizon given the team’s tardy and unconvincing play.
In the 56th minute, Maddison made it 3-0 after he curled a 25-yard free-kick around the wall and into the net.
Cooper, obviously losing his bearing, brought in Serge Aurier and Ryan Yates Remo Freuler, but nothing happened.
Rodgers took off Jamie Vardy and brought in Daka, who scored the fourth goal to sink the visitors, with Maddison again contributing to the goal.
It was a brilliant and sensational return by Brendan Rodgers, but it is an unfinished task. Leicester City still have a lot to do to regain balance.
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