Premier League
Leicester
Dec 26, 2014 3.00pm
1
2
HT : 0 1
FT
Spurs
  • Leonardo Ulloa 48' goal
  • Jamie Vardy 93' yellowcard
  • goal Harry Kane 1'
  • yellowcard Kyle Walker 35'
  • goal Christian Eriksen 71'
  • yellowcard Jan Vertonghen 82'

Live Commentary: Leicester City 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur - as it happened

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Leicester 1-2 Spurs - as it happened
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Tottenham Hotspur have beaten Leicester City 2-1 to make it three successive wins in the Premier League.

Spurs went ahead in the first minute when Harry Kane fired in from close range.

The Foxes levelled the scores three minutes after the break, as Leonardo Ulloa touched in Riyad Mahrez's cross at the near post.

In the 71st minute the visitors regained their lead through Christian Eriksen's low free kick and they held on to take all three points.

Find out how the action unfolded below.

4.58pmThat's all we've got time for here. Stay with us as we bring you analysis and player ratings of every Premier League match that took place this afternoon. Until next time, goodbye!

4.55pmIt's all over and Spurs have held on to claim a 2-1 victory over Leicester. The Foxes will feel that they did enough to claim at least a point, but their defensive frailties cost them once more as their relegation woes deepen.

90+7 minFULL-TIME: Leicester City 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur

90+3 minYELLOW CARD! Vardy is booked for colliding with Lloris as the keeper came off his line to claim a long ball. The Frenchman is down and in need of treatment, with the Spurs medical team at work to clean him up.

90+2 minCHANCE! Leicester are pushing everyone forward now and Hamer is up for a corner. The set piece is then whipped to the back post where Morgan heads it on, but Lloris touches the ball behind.

90 minThere are going to be four minutes of stoppage time.

89 minCHANCE! This was the chance for Leicester to level the scores. Mahrez whips a fantastic low ball across the box that Lloris touches onto Morgan at the back post. The defender slides in and sends the ball goalwards, but there is not enough pace on it to take it over the line, with the keeper getting back to save.

85 minPENALTY APPEAL! The home fans are livid as their team are denied what looks like a stonewall penalty. It's Vardy who is brought down inside the box by Vertonghen, but Neil Swarbrick waves away their appeals and instead gives a corner. Just moments later they have another shout for a spot kick, but nothing is given for a suspected tug on Ulloa by Fazio.

84 minSUBSTITUTION: It's a final change for Spurs too, as Paulinho comes on for the goalscorer Kane.

83 minSUBSTITUTION: The hosts have made their third and final change of the match, with Knockaert replacing Konchesky.

82 minYELLOW CARD! Vertonghen is booked for Spurs for fouling Vardy by the right-hand touchline.

81 minIt has gone a bit quiet at the moment and it is at this point in the game when Leicester really need their fans to get behind them. There is still a chance for them to get back into the match and Spurs are looking by no means comfortable at the back.

78 minIf anyone is going to get Leicester back into this game then you suspect that Mahrez will be involved. The Algerian has been at the heart of everything good for his side, but on this occasion after he is picked out by Schlupp, he bends a strike well over the bar.

75 minSUBSTITUTION: It's a change for the hosts, as Vardy comes on to replace Nugent.

73 minHamer was beaten at his near post just moments ago and Kane looks to find the net from a similar angle. His low drive is close, but this time the ball ends up going wide of the post.

71 minI just spoke about the danger that Spurs pose and they have indeed scored a second. It's a really soft goal from Leicester's point of view, as Eriksen whips in a low free kick from out wide on the left that the keeper should save, but somehow it ends up finding a way into the net past Hamer at his near post.

71 minGOAL! Leicester City 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur (Christian Eriksen)

70 minAs we enter the final 20 minutes, it's still very hard to call how this game will finish. The Foxes are on top at the moment and the momentum is on their side, but they will know all too well that Spurs are more than capable of grabbing another goal at any moment.

66 minSAVE! Lloris has made some top saves this afternoon and the keeper has to be alert to push a stinging drive across goal from Schlupp behind for a corner.

63 minSUBSTITUTION: Spurs have made their second change of the match, with Soldado coming on for Chadli.

60 minPENALTY APPEAL! Spurs haven't seen too much of the ball in the home side's half since the break, but they feel that they should be given a spot kick when Kane goes down under the challenge of Morgan. The Leicester captain did appear to have his hands all over the striker, but it would have been a contentious call.

56 minIt really is a completely different game at the moment from the first half. Leicester are well on top and it is they who are doing all of the attacking. Spurs just can't get out of their own half and they are inviting the Foxes to put pressure on them.

53 minOFF THE BAR! For the second time this afternoon Leicester are denied by the woodwork! Mahrez is once again the inspiration as he curls in a fantastic free kick from around 25 yards out, which beats Lloris and comes crashing back off the bar.

51 minThat was such a huge moment for Leicester, who really needed a quick start the second half. They have finally taken one of their chances and it has given them something to build upon for the remainder of this match.

48 minThe Foxes have looked good since the break and they have been rewarded with a goal. The credit must go to Mahrez who goes past Fazio down the right and gets to the byline. He then delivers a fine low cross that Ulloa arrives to meet at the front post to guide past Lloris.

48 minGOAL! Leicester City 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Leonardo Ulloa)

46 minWe are back underway at the King Power Stadium!

4.02pmWe're nearly ready for the second half and both sides have made a change at the break. Matty James is on for the Foxes in place of Andy King, while Ryan Mason is coming on for Spurs, with Benjamin Stambouli heading off.

4.59pm

3.56pmLeicester's problems in front of goal this season were summed up by that first half. They got into some great positions, but just lacked the clinical finishing touch in the final third. Spurs also missed a couple of decent chances, but with Kane up front they have a striker full of confidence after a fantastic start to the season.

3.53pmIt's no surprise to see that the visitors have had more of the ball, with Spurs amassing 56% of the possession. However, Leicester have had far more attempts on goal, with 10 shots compared to the three from Tottenham. Only three of those have found the target and it is their inability to find the net which could cost them yet again today.

3.50pmThe whistle blows for half time and it's Tottenham who have a 1-0 lead against Leicester. Harry Kane's strike inside the opening minute is all that separates the sides, but the hosts will feel that they have had enough chances to level the scores.

45+1 minHALF-TIME: Leicester City 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur

45 minCHANCE! Kane scored in the first minute of the half and he really should have found the net right at the end of it. He is found by Lamela's free kick from the left, but ends up planting his header wide of the post.

42 minSpurs are coming under some huge pressure at the moment and Pochettino will be desperate for the whistle to blow for half time. His team just need to take the sting out of the game, as the Foxes look increasingly likely to find the net.

39 minOFF THE POST! How many more big chances are Leicester going to waste in this match? They really should find the net as Mahrez whips a wonderful cross in from the right that is met by Ulloa in the box, but the striker can only plant his header against the post, with the keeper left rooted to the spot.

37 minSAVE! The Foxes create another big chance as Ulloa flicks a long ball into the path of Mahrez. The winger shows some neat footwork to cut inside, before bending in a low strike looking for the far corner, but Lloris gets down well to push the ball clear.

36 minLeicester are getting into some fantastic positions now and Drinkwater slips Ulloa through on the right-hand side of the box. The striker then takes the ball past Fazio, but as he looks up to cross, he slips at the vital moment and ends up putting the ball out of play.

35 minYELLOW CARD! Walker is the first player to pick up a card this afternoon for a foul on Schlupp.

34 minSchlupp has been one of the rare bright sparks for Leicester in this first half and the Ghanian does well well to find some space before firing in a low shot from the edge of the box. It was pretty easy for Lloris, who got down and gathered the ball at his near post, but it was a positive moment for the fans to get excited about.

32 minCHANCE! What a massive chance this is for Spurs to score a second. Bentaleb races clean through from the halfway line after being freed by Kane. The midfielder then gets into the box and looks odds on to score, but he takes far too long on the ball and Konchesky gets back to make a last-ditch challenge.

28 minLeicester need to take every opportunity that comes their way and Drinkwater shows great skill to drive through the middle. He then gets into a decent shooting position around 25 yards out from goal, before scuffing a poor effort well wide of the target.

23 minCHANCE! Despite some good play from the hosts, there is still the threat of Spurs on the break. On their latest attack, it's Chadli who cuts inside before firing in a strike, but his effort is saved by Hamer.

22 minThe Foxes have another dangerous moment when a dangerous free kick is whipped into the box and only cleared as far as King at the back post. The midfielder then gets to the byline and drives a great low ball across the box, but Fazio gets it clear.

21 minThis has been a much better spell in the game for Leicester who are seeing more of the ball in the midfield. They are starting to get forward much quicker than they have been and are not making it so easy for Spurs.

18 minSAVE! The hosts finally spring into life and they force Lloris into a stop. Schlupp does well to charge through the midfield, before finding Ulloa on the edge of the box. The Argentine then flicks the ball up and lashes in a powerful drive, but it is at a good height for the keeper, who tips the strike over the bar.

16 minIt really is so easy for Spurs at the moment and they are just playing the ball around without any pressure from the hosts. Pearson's side have been so sloppy in possession and even the crowd have started to make their feelings of frustration known to the players.

14 min

11 minSpurs are very much the dominant force now and they seem keen to build upon their early goal. They have pegged Leicester back right on the edge of their own box, with Lamela and Eriksen looking to pull the strings.

8 minLeicester have seen much more of the ball than their opponents at this early stage, but they look far less dangerous. It seems that Spurs will score every time they go forward, whereas the Foxes are looking very blunt in the final third.

6 min

4 minLeicester are pressing so high up the pitch and it is leaving them very open to being hit on the counter attack yet again. They are almost caught out once more, as they lose the ball and it is slipped through to Kane, but the final pass from Eriksen is just too long for the striker and Hamer rushes off his line to clear.

1 minWhat a start for Tottenham! The visitors have taken the lead inside the first minute. They break quickly with Chadli finding himself running free down the left. He then looks up and spots Kane in the middle, who makes the most of some poor defending to slot the ball in from close range.

1 minGOAL! Leicester City 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Harry Kane)

1 minKICKOFF! We are underway at the King Power Stadium!

2.57pmWe are now three minutes away from kick off and the players have just made their way out onto the pitch. Don't forget, that we have live coverage of every Premier League match taking place today, so you don't have to worry about missing any of the action.

2.53pm

2.50pmWith 10 minutes to go until kick off make sure you check out our video preview from the guys down at Sports Mole HQ.
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2.47pmPREDICTION: It's hard to make a case for Leicester this afternoon and I expect their winless run to stretch to 13 games. They have only kept two clean sheets of all season and have badly struggled to find the net. Tottenham have been in far better form and their good form on the road should continue. For those reasons I am tipping Spurs to come out on top with a 2-0 win.

2.44pmToday will mark the first meeting between the teams since 2006. That was an FA Cup third-round tie in which Leicester City won 3-2, having come from two-goals down at the break. The last time they played in the Premier League back in 2004 was also another thrilling encounter, as Jermain Defoe scored late on to rescue Spurs a 4-4 draw.

2.41pmSome of the club's problems this season have come in front of their fans, but their away form in recent weeks has been among the best in the division. In their last three games on the road they have beaten Aston Villa, Hull City and Swansea City all by the same 2-1 scoreline. Their fans would desperately love for them to repeat that today, especially with games against Manchester United and Chelsea to come at White Hart Lane over the next week.

2.38pmThe club are not just doing well in the league, they are also into the semi-finals of the League Cup following last week's victory over Newcastle United. Having been drawn against Sheffield United in the last four, they will be more than confident of booking a trip to Wembley next March. As well as that, they are still going strong in the Europa League, but face a tough test against Fiorentina in the last 32 when the competition gets back underway.

2.35pmIf it is all doom and gloom for Leicester, then the same cannot be said of Spurs. Four wins from their last six league games has moved them up to seventh in the table and just four points behind fourth-place West Ham United. They may have had a shaky start to life under Mauricio Pochettino, but it seems that the Argentine has started to get the very best out of his squad.

2.32pmIt is clear that Nigel Pearson will have to do some business in January if he is to pull off a great escape with the Foxes. Goals have been in short supply and only Aston Villa (11) and Burnley (12) have scored less (15) than they have. Some defensive acquisitions may also be on the manager's wish list, given that they have conceded 29 goals, which is just three less than the top flight's worst backline of Queens Park Rangers.

2.29pmThat stunning 5-3 victory over Man Utd was the last time they tasted success, as their winless run has now stretched to 12 games. They have actually lost their last five games and in three of those they have taken the lead, only to let it very quickly slip from their grasp.

2.26pmThere really has been little to cheer since their promotion and they have claimed just two wins since the start of the season. Things didn't start off too badly for them, as they picked up draws against Everton and Arsenal, before beating Stoke City and Manchester United in their first five games.

2.23pmOn this day last season the Foxes claimed a 1-0 victory over Reading to leapfrog Burnley and Queens Park Rangers and move top of the Championship table. It was a position that they never relinquished as they cruised to the title and a coveted spot back in the big time.

2.20pmThe Premier League table makes bleak reading for fans of Leicester. Their club are rock bottom and are starting to get cut adrift from their closest relegation rivals. A five-point gap is between them and 17th placed Crystal Palace and it really does look like their stay in the top flight will be coming to an end next May.

2.17pmSpurs have also made a couple of changes from the team that beat Burnley last time out. Ryan Mason has been struggling with an ankle injury and only makes the bench, with Benjamin Stambouli taking his place in the midfield. There is also a change at full back, as Danny Rose comes in for Ben Davies.

2.14pmSo, there was have our teams for this afternoon's match. Let's start by looking at the hosts, who are still without Kasper Schmeichel, so Ben Hamer continues in goal. There are also a couple of changes from their defeat against West Ham United, with Leonardo Ulloa and David Nugent coming in for Esteban Cambiasso and Jamie Vardy.

2.11pmTOTTENHAM SUBS: Vorm, Chiriches, Davies, Mason, Paulinho, Townsend, Soldado

2.10pmLEICESTER SUBS: Smith, De Laet, Hammond, James, Vardy, Cambiasso, Knockaert

2.09pmTOTTENHAM XI: Lloris, Walker, Fazio, Vertonghen, Rose, Bentaleb, Stambouli, Lamela, Eriksen, Chadli, Kane

2.08pmLEICESTER XI: Hamer, Simpson, Wasilewski, Morgan, Konchesky, Drinkwater, King, Mahrez, Nugent, Schlupp, Ulloa

2.06pmIt is a very different story for their opponents this afternoon. Tottenham have won three games on the bounce and they are just a few points away from reaching the top four. A League Cup final is also very much within their grasp, as they will be strong favourites to beat League One side Sheffield United in their semi-final.

2.03pmYou would forgive any Leicester fans for not getting into the Christmas spirit given their clubs dismal form over the past three months. The Foxes have gone their last 12 games without a win and 10 of those have ended in defeats. It has left them bottom of the table and five points away from climbing out of the relegation zone.

2.00pmGood afternoon everyone! The Premier League action continues with a full schedule of Boxing Day matches. Hoping for some festive cheer are a Leicester City side in freefall against a Tottenham Hotspur outfit on the rise.
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