Well who would have thought? Leicester currently top of the Championship and looking more like a side destined for the Premiership. It didn't seem so long ago that questions were being asked about the progress of the side after all the money pumped into the club by new investement but after an undefeated streak of six wins in seven the doubters are beginning to disappear as city climb the table.
Brighton were the visitors to the King Power stadium coming off the back of a 1-0 defeat over the weekend to Middlesbrough. A long trek for the seagull's fans on a foggy Tuesday night with freezing conditions can't have been the ideal situation but 1,500 supporters made the trip up north, a very decent effort.
Leicester began with the same eleven that drew 1-1 away to Birmingham on Saturday with goalscorer Ben Marshall remaining a substitute. Already seated and before we knew it Leicester were attacking, bright runs from Lloyd Dyer down the left combining with David Nugent created openings which Brighton hurriedly cleared. The onslaught continued and with four minutes on the clock another Dyer break down the left resulted in a one-two between Nugent and Andy King resulting in King planting a shot high into Tomasz Kuszcack's net.
By this point Leicester were the very reflection of a team top of the pile, passing and moving around a shell shocked Brighton, who themselves were by no means having a poor evening. Richie De Laet bombed forward from right back past the entire seagull's left side to cut back for Martyn Waghorn who could only blaze over.
In the second half the home side began to relax as Brighton gained in possession and confidence with Will Buckley making a break beyond Paul Konchesky leading Zak Whitbread to come over and halt the wingers run by way of an arm in the face, penalty. Ashley Barnes stepped up against Schmeichel with Leicester's biggest crowd of the season doing their best to put him off, and it worked. Barnes planted the ball to Schmeichel's left with the 'keeper reading it to perfection pulling off a dramatic save with Barnes only able to sky the follow-up.
With that came the entertainment not previously included on the prices of most Leicester tickets. Anthony Knockeart's been a bit of a revelation since joining the club and after 30 yarder's and overhead tap in's it was time for the young frenchman to entertain the crowd with his back catalogue of tricks. Down by the corner flag Knockeart swept the ball in one spin past two bewildered defenders to open up a crossing opportunity. Sublime chip's, passes and other neat touches had the crowd in a frenzy and thus adding at least another £2m to his value no doubt.
With a thoroughly enjoyable Leicester performance and the atmosphere significantly boosted around the ground it had been a brilliant evening. Leicester really do look like a team capable of reaching the Premier League if this performance is anything to go by, solid at the back and with talent in abundance in midfield. Brighton were no mug's and showed glimpses of a talented side which makes the victory all the more satisfying.
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