ENZO MARESCA’S jet-lagged duo combined to make his return to Leicester a victorious if not an impressive one.
The former Leicester boss went back to the club where he won last season’s Championship title and came away with three points thanks to goals in each half.
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Nicolas Jackson and captain Enzo Fernandez have barely touched down on the Heathrow tarmac following international duty but shrugged off the fatigue to clinch the win.
Striker Jackson has been away in Africa playing for Senegal and Fernandez was with Argentina.
Yet they came to their manager’s rescue as Chelsea’s weary-looking band of cosmopolitan stars struggled against the wind of Storm Bert to see off struggling Leicester.
Jackson scored the first after 15 minutes and Fernandez wrapped it up with 15 to go. The result keeps Chelsea firmly in the top four despite a wobbly performance on the road.
Maresca is always wary of his squad’s fitness and fatigue levels after an international break.
Fernandez in particular was one of the last of his men back from playing for their respective countries after 90 minutes for Argentina against Paraguay in the early hours of Wednesday morning, UK time.
England star Cole Palmer played a full 90 minutes on his return to action after withdrawing from international duty because of a knee injury. As did defender Levi Colwill, who went down injured at full-time.
Palmer had a great chance to score early in the second half but his goalbound shot hit team-mate Noni Madueke and rolled wide.
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Maresca always fears the first fixture back following a fortnight with his players spread far and wide around the globe.
So it will be a big relief to have come through a painful early kick-off with three points and to emerge from his return to the King Power Stadium triumphant.
Leicester were always going to be up against it defensively but they were pretty feeble going forwards too with 37-year-old Jamie Vardy leading the line.
However, despite going a goal down when Wout Faes could not quite clear the danger comprehensively under pressure from Jackson, so much of their disappointing first half came from poor passing and breakdowns in the middle third.
It didn’t help losing midfielder Harry Winks after only 11 minutes.
The former Tottenham player looked to have twisted his ankle falling awkwardly and was replaced by his old White Hart Lane team-mate Oliver Skipp.
But Winks had been enjoying a bright start to the game and for a team under the cosh like Leicester to have a key man come off so soon made the struggle uphill even steeper.
Faes looked to be the culprit when Maresca’s visitors went ahead four minutes after Winks limped off.
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His cumbersome attempt at an overhead hook while tangling with Jackson was risky.
The ball only went as far as Chelsea skipper Enzo Fernandez charging through and the Argentinian threaded the ball back through to Jackson to latch onto and prod the ball home.
Leicester have now gone behind in the last six games. And with confidence low and a relative OAP up front, albeit a classy one in vastly experienced Vardy, conceding first is a big problem.
Noni Madueke scored a second for Chelsea but it was ruled out for offside.
But how City stopped from being overrun is worthy of praise and a worry for Maresca that his team could not finish this game off long before half-time.
Madueke missed a great chance to double the lead with a volley wide, Joao Felix went wide and then high with other chances.
No wonder Maresca remains constantly critical of his team’s attacking prowess even though it sits comfortably in the Premier League top four.
For failing to kill off games leads to hairy moments like the couple that the home managed to muster just before half time.
Both Kasey McAteer and Wilfred Ndidi should have put Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez under far more pressure than they did with their shots but it was still a warning that the Blues had work to do.
Palmer should have put the seal on the game on 54 minutes when Cucurella chipped a shot into the box.
Jackson’s first time header was parried by keeper Mads Hermansen but another unforced error by Leicester’s defence left Fernandez unmarked to pretty much fall forwards and head the ball into an empty net from five yards.
It is now five games without a win for the Foxes even though they were handed a late, late lifeline from the penalty spot.
Chelsea sub Romeo Lavia tripped Bobby Decordova-Reid and Jordan Ayew rolled home his spot-kick.
