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Harvey Barnes delivers outstanding performance as Leicester beat Burnley

Harvey Barnes of Leicester City battles for possession with Erik Pieters of Burnley during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Burnley at The King Power Stadium on September 20, 2020 in Leicester, England.  - Getty mages
Harvey Barnes of Leicester City battles for possession with Erik Pieters of Burnley during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Burnley at The King Power Stadium on September 20, 2020 in Leicester, England. - Getty mages

For all Leicester’s wobble at the precisely the wrong moment last season, their campaign was one. On Sunday night, defensive frailties notwithstanding, showcased the best their midfield and strikeforce can offer. Propelled by the imperious Harvey Barnes, they have scored seven goals in two games and won their opening pair of league games for the first time since the title winning campaign of 2015-16.

Leicester were unchanged after last week’s stroll at The Hawthorns. Burnley, though, began their Premier League season with their paucity of resources, as highlighted by manager Sean Dyche in pre-season, on display. A year ago, Jimmy Dunne was helping Fleetwood Town overcome the doughty challenge of Rochdale in League One, the fifth loan of a seemingly moribund career at Turf Moor.

On Sunday night, with Ben Mee injured and James Tarkowski, the victim of both a toe niggle and fevered speculation as to his whereabouts when the transfer window closes, absent, Dunne stepped up to make his Premier League debut.  The 22-year-old Irishman scored Burnley’s second and did not disgrace himself, but his team’s problems run deeper than a rookie centre back and their lack of investment is already reaping its barren harvest.

“I liked our mentality tonight,” noted Dyche. “But its not new news how we have to operate. We work with what we’ve got.”

Rather than prey upon the new boy exclusively, JamieVardy flitted between Dunne and Kevin Long, adding the element of surprise to his wily manoeuvring, but the real star was Barnes, who looks to be on the verge of a breakthrough season.

“I’m delighted for him,” said Brendan Rodgers, who was celebrating his 100th Premier League victory as a manager. “He was brilliant tonight and his composure and aggression were outstanding. If he can increase his numbers and his understanding he’s going to get better still.”

Leicester were rather less effervescent in defence, where their own central defensive indispositions forced Wilfred Ndidi to continue as Caglar Soyuncu’s uncomfortable sidekick, but both were bypassed when, after 10 Burnley dominated minutes, excellent work from Dwight McNeil enabled Charlie Taylor to cross deep from the left. James Justin made a horrible hash of dealing with Chris Wood, who eased Justin onto the floor, chested the ball down, and volleyed handsomely past Kasper Schmeichel. Justin would be far from innocent for Burnley’s second too.

That was as good as it got for Burnley until their late revival. Ten minutes later Leicester were level with a goal of beauty. Barnes’s defence-splitting pass found Vardy, who galloped forwards and seemed set to score when Taylor and Dunne careered into each other. Instead, Vardy rolled it back for Timothy Castagne, who sidefooted across the area for the onrushing Barnes to smash home his first goal since lockdown.

With Barnes causing all sorts of trouble for Phil Bardsley down Leicester’s left and Dennis Praet a hive of industry in the centre, Leicester assumed hegemony, but Burnley clung on until the 50th minute when they scored for Leicester.

Justin gained partial redemption when he found Youri Tielemans, whose sumptuous pass took out the entire defence, but not the overlapping Castagne, whose cross-shot was deflected past Pope by the unfortunate Erik Pieters.

Timothy Castange of Leicester City scores Leicesters second after his shot deflected in off Erik Pieters of Burnley during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Burnley at The King Power Stadium on September 20, 2020 in Leicester, United Kingdom.  - GETTY IMAGES
Timothy Castange of Leicester City scores Leicesters second after his shot deflected in off Erik Pieters of Burnley during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Burnley at The King Power Stadium on September 20, 2020 in Leicester, United Kingdom. - GETTY IMAGES

Leicester were wholly dominant now and goal number three arrived when Ayoze Perez twisted and swivelled past a battalion of lacklustre challenges before squaring to Justin to complete his seeming redemption by sweeping home his first Premier League goal.

It was not. Burnley rallied a little. McNeil slung over a free kick and Dunne overwhelmed Justin’s limp challenge to bundle home.

If Dunne’s scrappy sore had prised open Leicester’s door, it soon slammed shut again. The irresistible Barnes waltzed through some more lily-livered defenders and found Praet, whose body swerve sent McNeil careering in the wrong direction. The Belgian had time to look up and weigh his options before firing past an understandably incandescent Pope.

There was more. Wood almost made the last few minutes more thrilling still when he beat Schmeichel, but not, alas for him and his team, the post.