Jamie Vardy's seventh consecutive Premier League goal has given Leicester City a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace in Saturday's clash at the King Power Stadium.
The first half saw little in the way of concrete action, though Marc Albrighton struck the Eagles post in the eighth minute, with Riyad Mahrez fluffing his lines on the rebound.
In the second half, Claudio Ranieri's charges broke the deadlock through Vardy, who claimed his 10th goal of the Premier League season to settle the game, though Palace stepped up their attacks late on.
The result sees Leicester cement their hold on fifth place in the table, with a four-point gap opening up between themselves and sixth-placed Palace.
Here is how Sports Mole covered the action at the KP.
Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League clash between Leicester City and Crystal Palace!
Two teams flying high in the Premier League meet today, with the hosts sitting in fifth place and their opponents just a spot behind.
Claudio Ranieri's side have shocked everyone with their blistering start to the season, losing just one game in nine, and there are no signs of letting up from the boys in blue.
The Eagles, meanwhile, have five victories and four defeats in the top flight, their away form largely to thank for their position in the standings.
Team news filtering through...
LEICESTER STARTING XI: Schmeichel, Simpson, Huth, Morgan, Fuchs, Albrighton, Kante, Drinkwater, Schlupp, Mahrez, Vardy
PALACE STARTING XI: Hennessey, Mariappa, Dann, Hangeland, Kelly, McArthur, Cabaye, Puncheon, Sako, Bolasie, Campbell
LEICESTER SUBS: Schwarzer, De Laet, King, Kramaric, Okazaki, Dyer, Inler
PALACE SUBS: Speroni, Delaney, Jedinak, Mutch, Ledley, Zaha, Bamford
Just one change for the hosts this afternoon as Riyad Mahrez replaces Shinji Okazaki in midfield. Jamie Vardy and Jeff Schlupp have recovered from wrist and head injuries sustained last weekend to make the cut against the Eagles, while Leonardo Ulloa remains sidelined with a thigh problem.
Three changes for the visitors, meanwhile. Adrian Mariappa, Bakary Sako and Fraizer Campbell are drafted in to start by Alan Pardew.
Dwight Gayle is suspended following his red card last week, so he joins injured forwards Marouane Chamakh and Connor Wickham on the sidelines. Wilfried Zaha is benched while Pape Souare is not included in the squad.
So, going into the Premier League's 10th matchday and Leicester are in fifth place. Remarkable considering how close they were to dropping out of the top flight last season, but for the greatest of great escapes.
Jamie Vardy has been integral to Leicester's success and leads the scoring chart in the league with nine goals, three more than any other player.
As is usually the norm in the game, bigger clubs are said to be expressing an interest in the England man, but Ranieri has issued a stern hands-off warning to anyone wanting to poach him.
The former Chelsea boss said: "We won't sell him [Vardy]. He's very happy here. He will stay with us. Nobody goes in January - not Riyad [Mahrez], not him, not [Jeff] Schlupp, nobody. We want to improve and to achieve our goal as soon as possible so I need, the club needs and the fans need all our best players to stay."
Speaking of Mahrez, there had been questions over his place in the team as the technically-gifted player has been left on the bench for Leicester's last two fixtures, despite his impressive start to the season when he scored four goals in the first three league games.
Ranieri's reply was as follows: "I left [Mahrez] on the bench at the beginning because he, as well as his other teammates, were around the world. I want to choose some players who stayed with me for 10 days and not who went around with the national teams without training, and just travel a lot and play two matches."
So nothing for alarm bells to ring over - Mahrez is back in the squad today as per... and besides, given the Foxes' impressive form so far, who is to question Ranieri?
SOFA, SO GOOD: Half an hour until kickoff, so it's a good time for you to get a thorough rundown on all the news and trivia ahead of the game with Sports Mole's sofa-loving pundits.
If you're more of an audio person, Sports Mole has also recorded a preview exclusively for your ears. Don't say we don't spoil you.
Now we move onto Palace, who have also enjoyed a pretty impressive start to the campaign. Pardew rejuvenated the Eagles when he was appointed manager in January, and he has continued that spirit in the early stages of this season.
Most teams thrive on a home crowd, and Palace have arguably one of the best atmospheres in the division at Selhurst Park, but at the moment they are happy on the road having won nine of their last 12 away fixtures.
Before that, Palace had only managed to gain maximum points from nine out of 61 trips, so this weekend's visit to the KP should not faze them too much from a psychological point of view.
Another positive for Palace is the fact that Leicester have conceded 16 goals in their nine games, failing to keep a single clean sheet. This prompted Pardew to say: "The chance of this game being 0-0 is zero. If you're going to Leicester, expect to see some goals."
The downside for the Eagles is that they head into the game on the back of a 3-1 defeat to West Ham United, which also featured the controversial sending-off of Dwight Gayle. Referee Mark Clattenburg issued a second yellow card to the attacker following his mistimed challenge in the 44th minute, and Pardew admitted at this week's press conference that he still feels frustrated by the decision.
Nevertheless, the reward for Palace if they win is a potential cracking of the top four, which would prove a massive boost given that the number of league fixtures played has edged into double figures - the season is well and truly underway at this point.
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Palace won both meetings last season, with Leicester failing to score a goal. The Eagles won the first fixture 2-0 at Selhurst Park, before triumphing 1-0 in the return clash at the KP.
However, the Eagles have only won five of the 25 league meetings at Leicester, with 10 draws and 10 defeats somewhat tarnishing their record in the East Midlands city.
Vardy stands on the brink of history today - he will be looking to become only the fifth different English player to score in seven or more successive Premier League games after Daniel Sturridge (eight), Alan Shearer (seven), Ian Wright (seven) and Mark Stein (seven).
The 28-year-old will be one to look out for today - he has been involved in 18 goals in his last 19 Premier League appearances, scoring 13 goals and notching up five assists.
As for Leicester, they have won seven points from losing positions this season, more than any other top-flight side, and their lone league defeat, the same as Tottenham Hotspur, is a joint-best in the campaign.
Palace, meanwhile, have kept a clean sheet in two of their last three league matches, having only managed two in their previous 24 league games under Pardew.
In addition the Eagles have scored seven penalties in their 11 matches in all competitions this season, with Yohan Cabaye netting from the spot in each of his last three league matches.
PREDICTION: The players' warm-ups are done and they're now back in the changing room. Not long to go until kick off here in Leicester, so it's time for me to have a stab at the scoreline.
It's a difficult one to call, but I reckon Leicester will keep up their good form, with Vardy and Mahrez netting in a 2-1 win.
The teams are in the tunnel are we're ready for action here at the KP.
The Leicester fans at one end of the ground are standing up and brandishing blue and silver foil sheets to spell out "Foxes" in giant letters. Not long to go now.
KICKOFF: Palace get proceedings underway!
It's a decent start from Palace as Bolasie heads down the left wing and plays an early cross low to the near post, which Schmeichel collects just before Puncheon can get to the ball.
Puncheon dribbles past two defenders on the edge of the Leicester box but he is put off by the presence of a third, so he skews his ball to nobody in particular, allowing the Foxes to clear.
After the early forays from Palace, the game has now settled down. The visitors enjoyed a fair bit of possession around their half, but now it's Leicester's turn to stroke the ball around their own defence.
Good work from Simpson down the right, but his probing cross-field ball cannot find Schlupp. Palace attempt to counter, but Kante and Drinkwater are on hand to thwart the opposition pressing.
CHANCE! Leicester should be in front here. Albrighton cuts inside on his left and hits a low shot which beats an unmoved Hennessey but strikes the foot of the post, before Mahrez, first to the rebound, rifles wide.
CHANCE! It's Leicester again as dangerman Vardy dispossesses Hangeland and bursts into the box from the right flank before drilling a low cross across goal, which Dann turns over the bar for a corner.
Palace manage to get the corner clear, only to concede a free kick 30 yards from goal, but Drinkwater's set piece is kept out by the well-positioned Hennessey.
Leicester counter after Sako loses out to Kante, who finds Mahrez, who in turn slips a throughball over to Vardy, but the linesman aborts the move for offside.
More pressing from Leicester who continue to hold Palace under the cosh. Schlupp bundles his way past two defenders before seeing a shot from 20 yards blocked, and moments later Kante decides to go for goal but rifles the ball way off target.
Schlupp bursts inside before releasing Drinkwater with an intelligent pass. The 25-year-old opts to shoot from distance, but the effort is weak and easily caught down low by Hennessey.
Sako almost plays Campbell through on goal after latching onto Cabaye's pass, but Morgan is able to snuff the move out.
Another half-chance for Leicester as Fuchs gets the better of Dann before lashing a cross in from the byline, but Hennessey reacts quickest to stop the ball just under his crossbar.
Leicester counter with Drinkwater nodding the ball on to Schlupp, who then plays a cross towards Vardy, who is just too far ahead to get onto the ball.
Bolasie cuts in from the left and attempts to lash a strike towards goal, but the ball is charged down by the thigh of Morgan.
Kelly clips Albrighton and concedes a free kick in Leicester's half. Play is switch over to the left, where McArthur nips in ahead of Drinkwater to put the ball out of play.
Great composure from Simpson down in the corner as he sees off the sliding tackle of Yohan Cabaye with a deft touch.
Albrighton goes beyond Kelly twice on the right, with the home faithful appealing for a foul both times, but nothing is given by the ref.
Drinkwater goes in with a hefty tackle on Bolasie, who retaliates by kicking out at the former Manchester United midfielder. The ref gives Leicester the free kick, but it leads to nothing.
Little to report here at the KP in recent minutes as the pace of the game appears to have descended back to second gear.
Bolasie dribbles inside and feeds Cabaye, who decided to have a pop from distance - the ball is struck well enough, but Schmeichel has it well covered.
Albrighton gets the ball in space on the right but opts to hit a deep pass to Vardy on the run, and it proves just a bit too convoluted, allowing the keeper to collect the ball - meanwhile, Drinkwater was unmarked in the centre.
Palace set off on a blitzing counterattack through their pacy front three, but Kante is there to put an end to the move. Not long until the break now and it's all honours even as it stands. Will we see a moment of magic - or indeed madness - before the half-time whistle?
Bolasie sends Campbell through with a deft pass, but Morgan races back to make a strong tackle. It wouldn't have counted anyway as it was offside.
HALF TIME: LEICESTER 0-0 PALACE
No added time here at the KP as the first half sees both sides evenly poised at nil-nil.
No goals to report as of yet in a game that hasn't gone past third gear yet, though Leicester have gone the closest, with Marc Albrighton hitting the post with a strike from distance. Aside from the occasional flurry of action, it's been somewhat lukewarm.
One problem for Leicester so far has been getting Vardy involved in the play. Both Brede Hangeland and Scott Dann have been impervious in the air, so balls over the top have not been a viable option for Ranieri's side. Jeffrey Schlupp and Albrighton have provided viable alternatives so far, but Palace have been defending well.
Palace have been second best for the majority of the game, but managed to provide the occasional foray into the opposition's final third, but Wes Morgan and Robert Huth have also put in a good shift at the back. Effectively both teams have cancelled each other out, though in all fairness the Foxes should be a goal up had Albrighton's early strike gone in or finished off by Riyad Mahrez.
So much for Pardew's prediction of goals, eh? There is still a whole 45 minutes plus stoppage time to go, mind, so for all I know there could be six or seven in the second half (don't hold me to it, my betting predictions are about as accurate as Nostradamus's armageddon predictions)...
KICKOFF: Back underway here. Will the spoils be shared, or will one side grab all three points? Stay with Sports Mole and all will be revealed. No changes at the break for either side, by the way.
Palace begin on the front foot, with Huth having to be alert to poke away Sako's cross to the near post. Bolasie picks it up and whips a cross into the box which Morgan bundles out for a corner.
Dann, the Palace skipper, rises to meet Cabaye's corner at the far post, but Schmeichel watches it sail wide.
It's a very rainy day in Leicester - McArthur's slip on the wet turf almost costs Palace, but Hennessey is able to get onto the ball despite Vardy pressing.
Albrighton whips in a decent delivery from the left, but it proves just a little too heavy for Mahrez.
A poor pass from Albrighton is cut out by Bolasie. From the throw in, Mariappa gets the ball but gives it away to Drinkwater. Cabaye then intercepts, but his pass is overhit and bobbles out of play. It's all proving a bit scrappy.
Bolasie finds a pocket of space on the left edge of the box, but his hesitation before making the next move allows Drinkwater to get back and block his effort.
Mahrez wins a free kick on the Leicester right wing, which Fuchs takes, but the ball is low and easily cleared - just moments later, however, Fuchs gets another chance from open play, but he drives wide of the target.
SUBSTITUTION: First switch of the day as Palace replace Fraizer Campbell with Patrick Bamford in their forward line.
Some fierce tackles going in from both sets of players as the temperature appears to go up a notch in this game. Morgan and Bolasie tussle down at the corner flag, before McArthur flies in on Schlupp.
GOAL! LEICESTER 1-0 PALACE (JAMIE VARDY)
And for the seventh game running, Vardy gets onto the scoresheet! Hangeland gives the ball away to Mahrez, who passes it first time to his hotshot teammate. The striker, in turn, lifts the ball over Hennessey and chases after it to hammer home from point-blank range.
Vardy now has nine in seven games for the Foxes, and is also only the fifth different English player to score in seven or more successive Premier League games (refer to earlier post).
SUBSTITUTION: Leicester make their first change of the day, with Shinji Okazaki replacing Marc Albrighton.
BOOKING: Simpson flies in on Bolasie in midfield with a rash tackle, and is duly shown a yellow card. Straight reds have been given for similarly strong challenges, just saying.
BOOKING: Now Schlupp joins Simpson in the book for a foul from behind on Puncheon. That's his fifth booking of the season, ruling him out of Tuesday's League Cup trip to Hull City.
SUBSTITUTION: That's the final action of the day for Puncheon, who is subbed off in favour of Wilfried Zaha.
CHANCE! Zaha holds the ball up on the edge of the area before playing it back to Sako, who lets rip with a vicious curling effort, but Schmeichel is on hand to parry away from goal.
Vardy advances on goal in hope of notching a second, but he finds himself surrounded by three Palace defenders, with his shot ultimately charged down.
Vardy's goal has given him a right jolt. He collects the ball in the left channel, cuts inside and drags a heavily-hit shot high and wide.
SUBSTITUTION: Okazaki concedes a free kick in a central area. Sako stands over it, but has to wait as Mile Jedinak is subbed on for the visitors in place of Adrian Mariappa.
Bolasie cuts inside and shoots, but it's deflected behind for a Palace corner. Bamford meets the subsequent ball in with a header which Schmeichel manages to palm clear before a follow up cross is headed goalwards by Dann and away from danger by Simpson.
Leicester under real pressure here, with Palace whipping cross after cross into the opposition box. Sako puts in another accurate delivery, but it sails just over Dann's head and goes out for a goal kick.
SUBSTITUTION: A brief moment of respite for the hosts as Nathan Dyer replaces Riyad Mahrez in midfield.
Some confusion on the edge of the Leicester box as Fuchs and Kante get in each other's way, but Bamford fails to take advantage, hitting a tame effort towards goal which comes to nothing.
Schlupp bursts free at the other end and does well to win a free kick on the byline from McArthur. Vardy almost gets on the end of the ball but the referee blows for a foul by Huth.
PENALTY SHOUT! This could prove to be controversial! Zaha darts between Fuchs and Schlupp and appears to be brought down - all eyes on the referee, who books the ex-Man Utd man for diving!
Another potential penalty appeal turned down now for Palace, with Bamford going down under pressure from Morgan - judging by the reaction of the fans and players, this one was a little less vague.
BOOKING: Vardy is shown a yellow for a rash tackle on Sako. Four minutes of injury time here at the KP.
Palace are piling on the pressure, but Cabaye blasts a volley high over the bar from the edge of the box. Could that be it for the Eagles?
Schlupp sees a shot deflected wide for a corner, giving the hosts a sterling opportunity to keep the ball out of danger and ebb away those last few seconds.
FULL TIME: LEICESTER CITY 1-0 CRYSTAL PALACE
Leicester go marching on with a fifth Premier League win in 10 games, as Jamie Vardy's second-half strike settles their meeing against Crystal Palace - 1-0 to the Foxes is the final result!
The 28-year-old striker grabbed his seventh consecutive league goal and 10th of the season to help his side entrench themselves in the top five of the top flight, a four-point gap opening up between the fifth-placed Foxes and the sixth-placed Eagles.
That's all we have time for but stay with Sports Mole because we'll be bringing you all the match results and reaction from this and all the weekend's other top games! Thanks for following and enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Written by
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte
