NEWS UPDATE: Leicester City thumps Stoke City 5-0, as Patson Daka and Jamie Vardy score brace apiece.

Leicester City extended their lead at the top of the Championship by 11 points with a commanding 5-0 triumph over Stoke. Patson Daka and Jamie Vardy each netted twice, including a penalty each, orchestrating the Foxes’ resounding victory. Daka, in superb form, opened the scoring, and Kasey McAteer doubled the lead before the half-hour mark. In the second half, Daka converted a penalty for his second goal, extending his impressive run with nine goal involvements in the last eight matches.

Jamie Vardy, coming off the bench, added to the rout by scoring his first league goals since November. Stoke struggled to resist the table-toppers, extending their winless streak at home to nine games since October.

Leicester, unbeaten in eight encounters with Stoke, dominated from the start. Abdul Fatawu, returning from a three-game suspension, posed an early threat with a powerful shot narrowly missing the target. McAteer’s header forced a great save from Stoke’s Jack Bonham, and Daka missed a close-range header.

Leicester’s attacking prowess was rewarded as Daka finished a well-orchestrated move, with Fatawu’s header setting up the Zambia international for an easy tap-in. Stoke had a chance to equalize, but Mads Hermansen saved Tyrese Campbell’s shot with his feet. Leicester continued to control the game, with McAteer’s deflected long-range shot beating a wrong-footed Bonham.

Despite Steven Schumacher’s attempts to rejuvenate Stoke with halftime changes, Leicester maintained their dominance. Daka converted a penalty after Wout Faes was fouled, securing his sixth goal in eight outings. Vardy, Daka’s replacement, then seized the opportunity, scoring first from a James Justin delivery and adding a second from the penalty spot in stoppage time.

Stoke attempted a late consolation, but Hermansen’s double save denied Bae Jun-ho and Ben Wilmot, concluding a disappointing day for the hosts. Meanwhile, Leicester took a step closer to a swift return to the Premier League.

In the post-match comments, Stoke’s Steven Schumacher acknowledged Leicester’s superiority, emphasizing the need for his team to respond. Leicester’s Enzo Maresca praised his team’s improvement, expressing satisfaction with the result and clean sheet, and acknowledging the support of the fans.