Leicester boost top-four hopes with 2-0 win over Blades

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City v Sheffield United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - July 16, 2020 Leicester City's Jamie Vardy misses a chance to score, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Michael Regan

Leicester City boosted their hopes of finishing in the Premier League top four as goals by Ayoze Perez and substitute Demarai Gray secured a 2-0 home win over Sheffield United on Thursday.

The result left Leicester fourth on 62 points from 36 games, three ahead of fifth-placed Manchester United who were visiting Crystal Palace in a later game and one behind Chelsea in third.

Leicester centre-back Jonny Evans stressed that the Foxes were aiming to respond to a crushing 4-1 defeat at relegation-threatened Bournemouth on Sunday and praised 19-year old debutant Luke Thomas who set up the first goal.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City v Sheffield United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - July 16, 2020 Leicester City's Kasper Schmeichel in action, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/David Davies EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

"It was very important, our heads dropped after the second and third goal the other day against Bournemouth, it was important we showed pride tonight," Evans told Sky Sports.

"Thomas was outstanding and everything he did was immaculate, man of the match without a doubt. He's been training really well and everyone has been really impressed with him."

Having won only one of their last six league games, Leicester needed a victory to get back on track in their bid to secure a berth in next season's Champions League and they delivered with a dominant performance.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City v Sheffield United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - July 16, 2020 Leicester City's Demarai Gray scores their second goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Michael Regan

Perez fired them ahead in the 29th minute with a crisp low shot from 14 metres thanks to a fine cut-back by Thomas and Gray sealed the contest in the 79th with a clinical finish after a fast break.

The Foxes missed a string of chances to win by a bigger margin as visiting goalkeeper Dean Henderson made several reflex saves while top scorer Jamie Vardy hit the outside of the post shortly after halftime.

The defeat means Sheffield United stay eighth on 54 points, two points behind sixth-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers who occupy a Europa League qualifying spot, after their timid performance brought a four-match unbeaten run to an end.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City v Sheffield United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - July 16, 2020 Leicester City's Ayoze Perez scores their first goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/David Davies

(Writing by Zoran Milosavljevic; Editing by Ken Ferris)

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City v Sheffield United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - July 16, 2020 Leicester City's Demarai Gray celebrates scoring their second goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Michael Regan

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City v Sheffield United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - July 16, 2020 Leicester City's Harvey Barnes shoots at goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Michael Regan

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City v Sheffield United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - July 16, 2020 Leicester City's Jamie Vardy reacts after missing a chance to score, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Michael Regan

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City v Sheffield United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - July 16, 2020 Leicester City's Demarai Gray in action with Sheffield United's Oliver Norwood, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/David Davies

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City v Sheffield United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - July 16, 2020 Sheffield United's Lys Mousset in action with Leicester City's Wes Morgan, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/David Davies

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City v Sheffield United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - July 16, 2020 Sheffield United's Oliver McBurnie in action with Leicester City's Wilfred Ndidi, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/David Davies

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City v Sheffield United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - July 16, 2020 Leicester City's Kasper Schmeichel saves a shot from Sheffield United's John Egan, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/David Davies

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City v Sheffield United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - July 16, 2020 Leicester City's Ayoze Perez scores their first goal, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/David Davies

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City v Sheffield United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - July 16, 2020 Sheffield United's David McGoldrick in action with Leicester City's Wilfred Ndidi, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Michael Regan

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City v Sheffield United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - July 16, 2020 Sheffield United's David McGoldrick in action with Leicester City's Wilfred Ndidi, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Michael Regan

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City v Sheffield United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - July 16, 2020 Leicester City's Jamie Vardy reacts, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Catherine Ivill

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City v Sheffield United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - July 16, 2020 Sheffield United's David McGoldrick in action with Leicester City's Wilfred Ndidi, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pool via REUTERS/Michael Regan