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Kasey McAteer (file pic). Alamy Stock Photo

Ireland international makes full Premier League debut as Chelsea overcome Leicester

It was a big day for Kasey McAteer.

IRELAND INTERNATIONAL Kasey McAteer made his full Premier League debut as Chelsea beat Leicester City 2-1 in the Premier League today.

The 23-year-old was an important figure in the Foxes’ successful promotion bid last season, making 23 Championship appearances.

Before this afternoon, he had made six Premier League appearances — including five this season — but all had come from the substitutes bench.

McAteer almost equalised in the first half, as his curled effort went just wide of the post.

He completed 71 minutes before being replaced by Stephy Mavididi.

The winger is also developing into an important player for Ireland under Heimir Hallgrimsson — he has made four substitute appearances in the Nations League campaign including off the bench against England last weekend.

Enzo Maresca enjoyed a winning return to the King Power Stadium.

Maresca led the Foxes to the Championship title in his only season in charge but left for Stamford Bridge in the summer.

He was tasked with rebuilding the Blues into a Premier League force and looks like he could be the man to finally make sense of their vast and expensively assembled squad as goals from Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Fernandez sent them third in the table ahead of the afternoon kick-offs.

Maresca’s replacement Steve Cooper is finding his new job much tougher and, with just two wins in their opening 12 games, the pressure is building on the former Nottingham Forest manager.

Leicester’s penalty by Jordan Ayew in the fifth minute of injury time was their only shot on target and this was an insipid display which did not please fans.

Chelsea dominated from the off and were rewarded with the 15th-minute lead, though Leicester defender Wout Faes will not want to watch it back.

The Belgian centre-back had several chances to clear a long ball but was continually outmuscled by Jackson and when the Chelsea striker got it back from Fernandez he coolly converted with the outside of his foot.

The game was being played entirely in Leicester’s half and the chances kept coming, with Moses Caicedo skewing wide when a loose ball fell kindly to him on the edge of the area and Noni Madueke forcing Mads Hermansen into a fine stretching save after dancing into the area.

The England international thought he had doubled the lead just after the half-hour when he swept home Marc Cucurella’s pullback, but the flag went up as the Spaniard was offside.

Leicester eventually turned up, albeit briefly, and fashioned good chances to equalise before the break, including Wilfred Ndidi prodding wide after Victor Kristiansen’s pull back fell into his path.

That spell was brief, though, and Madueke had another chance to make it two before the break but he put Jackson’s cross wide after a lightning quick breakaway.

It was turning out to be one of those days for Madueke as he then, inadvertently, stopped his side from adding a second early in the second half.

Jackson’s shot was superbly saved by Hermansen and Cole Palmer was destined to have an easy tap-in, but Madueke was in the way and blocked the shot as he took evasive action.

The second half was one-way traffic and the second goal eventually came in the 75th minute.

Jackson’s header from Cucurella’s cross was straight at Hermansen but the rebound fell perfectly for Fernandez to head home.

Leicester thought they should have had a penalty late on when Stephy Mavididi went down under a challenge from Wesley Fofana, but referee Andrew Madley waved away protests and VAR agreed with him.

Madley did point to the spot deep into injury time after VAR advised him that Romeo Lavia fouled Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Ayew slotted home.

Additional reporting by Paul Fennessy

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    Mute Raymond Dennehy
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    May 11th 2018, 7:55 AM

    Just like a BBQ the mention of a cricket match in Ireland brings torrential rain.

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    Mute Batster
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    May 11th 2018, 8:48 AM

    You’d have to feel terrible sorry for them today with heavy rain forecast all day.

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    Mute Stephen Kearon
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    May 11th 2018, 9:25 AM

    Well done, Ireland is proud of you

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    Mute Peter Cavey
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    May 11th 2018, 8:49 AM

    It’s over 4 days so hopefully one of them is a nice day.

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    Mute Ashish Uday Lal
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    May 11th 2018, 9:49 AM

    @Peter Cavey: it’s actually 5 days

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    Mute John Smith
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    May 11th 2018, 8:22 AM

    Bad day for a spot of cricket

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    Mute Scott Peterson
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    May 11th 2018, 9:47 AM

    Well done lads.
    The only way to watch cricket is on the radio.

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    Mute Mary Bermingham
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    May 11th 2018, 9:57 AM

    Good luck to the IRISH TEAM it was great excitement when they beat Pakistan

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    Mute Marjorie Magee
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    May 11th 2018, 10:36 AM

    My other half headed off bright and early ( well, early anyway !) , determined not to miss a minute – he’s so excited !

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    Mute Ian Heaton
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    May 11th 2018, 9:32 AM

    I had hoped to have been there today, but have other commitments. Pee’d off that I’m not there.

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    Mute Danny Rafferty
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    May 11th 2018, 10:02 AM

    Will the weather suit us?

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    Mute John Smith
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    May 11th 2018, 11:52 AM

    @Danny Rafferty: were well used to it anyway

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    Mute ROG Reacts
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    May 11th 2018, 12:07 PM

    We can’t lose our first ever test match of it keeps raining. Great tactic, lads!

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    Mute Kevin Spencer
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    May 11th 2018, 10:18 AM

    This is why cricket isnt popular in ireland

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    Mute Tracy Dorgan
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    May 11th 2018, 12:09 PM

    A great achievement for the team. Best of luck Ireland in the Test

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    Mute Anthony John Cotter
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    May 11th 2018, 10:12 AM

    What will I wear?

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