Leicester fights back to beat crisis-hit Owls
Marti Cifuentes celebrated victory on his managerial bow as Leicester City fought back to earn a 2-1 win over crisis-club Sheffield Wednesday, which had captain Barry Bannan sent off and Nathanial Chalobah taken from the field with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
Marti Cifuentes celebrated victory on his managerial bow as Leicester City fought back to earn a 2-1 win over crisis-club Sheffield Wednesday, which had captain Barry Bannan sent off and Nathanial Chalobah taken from the field with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
The cash-strapped Owls protested against owner Dejphon Chansiri after an off-season of turmoil that saw the club placed under three separate embargoes, players and staff paid late, first-team regulars sold for cut-price deals or leave on a free, and manager Danny Rohl depart to be replaced by assistant Henrik Pedersen.
Away supporters opted to take their seats for the game late and were applauded into the King Power Stadium by home fans, who are also waiting to hear if their club will be punished for an alleged breach of financial rules.
Despite its off-field troubles, Nathaniel Chalobah had already hit the post by the time he side-footed Yann Valery's cut-back home via a huge deflection off Oliver Skipp to put Wednesday ahead.
Leicester, relegated from the Premier League last season, went closest through Bilal El Khannouss and Yannik Vestergaard in a lacklustre first-half performance, but the latter rifled into the roof of the goal after 54 minutes to restore parity.
Wednesday's depleted squad had already been hit by injuries to Chalobah and Valery and the situation worsened when Bannan, booked for dissent only four minutes earlier, was shown a second yellow after catching Harry Winks on the follow-through.
Leicester's numerical advantage told as substitute Wout Faes headed home unmarked from an 87th-minute El Khannouss corner to get Leicester up and running, and break the resolve of the plucky visitors.
