Leicester City have registered their fourth consecutive Premier League victory and edged further from the relegation zone after beating Stoke City 2-0 at the King Power Stadium.
The Foxes had the better of the opening stages as Wilfred Ndidi put them ahead with a ferocious strike from 25 yards out in the 25th minute of the match.
Stoke were unable to put the hosts under any sustained pressure and paid the price when Jamie Vardy made the most of space in front of the goal to beat Glen Johnson and volley home.
The result sees Craig Shakespeare become the first British manager to win his first four Premier League games and keeps Leicester six points clear of the bottom three.
Here is how Sports Mole covered the action at the King Power.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of today's Premier League clash between Leicester City and Stoke City!
With the international break out of the way, we can get back to the business of seeing the Premier League campaign through the final stretch, and today's fixture at the King Power will see the Foxes aim to continue their momentum towards safety, while the Potters will be hoping for three valuable points to try and cement a top-ten place come the end of the season.
Since Craig Shakespeare took over the reins at Leicester, the team has turned its fortunes around almost overnight, and today they will be hoping for a fourth straight league win (fifth on the spin in all competitions) and put the Englishman in a select group of elite managers to have won their first four Premier League games.
Only Jose Mourinho, Guus Hiddink, Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola have won their opening four Premier League matches, so Shakespeare would make history as the first Brit to be part of this exclusive club.
Without further ado, let me bring you the team news from the KP...
LEICESTER STARTING XI: Schmeichel, Simpson, Benalouane, Huth, Fuchs, Mahrez, Drinkwater, Ndidi, Gray, Okazaki, Vardy
STOKE STARTING XI: Grant, Johnson, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Pieters, Arnautovic, Whelan, Allen, Sobhi, Walters, Berahino
LEICESTER SUBS: Chilwell, Musa, King, Amartey, Slimani, Zieler, Ulloa
STOKE SUBS: Muniesa, Afellay, Adam, Diouf, Imbula, Given, Crouch
Foxes midfielder Danny Drinkwater features this afternoon despite recently being unavailable for England with a hip injury, but skipper Wes Morgan is not in the squad due to a back problem, while Nampalys Mendy also misses out. Shakespeare has made one change from their 3-2 win over West Ham United last time out as Marc Albrighton drops out in place of Demarai Gray.
For Stoke, playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri is out with a calf injury, joining the likes of Geoff Cameron and Jack Butland on the sidelines, and right-back Phil Bardsley is also absent after his sending-off last time out against Chelsea. Two changes from Mark Hughes as Glen Johnson and Glenn Whelan come in for Cameron and Bardsley.
Interesting campaigns for both Leicester and Stoke this year. The Foxes came into the season as Premier League champions, but by mid-February they were in real danger of freefalling into the bottom three and out of the top flght. The axe fell on Claudio Ranieri's head in what was considered one of the cruellest moves in football, but since then, the East Midlanders have found form and climbed to six points clear of the basement (as well as making the quarter-finals of the Champions League).
As for the Potters, they were early-season relegation candidates after going without a league win until mid-October, but Hughes rallied his troops round and they now sit ninth, where they have finished in each of the past three seasons.
Victory for Leicester today could see them move nine points clear of the bottom three if results go their way, and on the cusp of breaking into the top ten, which would have been frankly unthinkable six weeks ago. Stoke, meanwhile, are hoping to cement their position in the top ten and hoping to make some ground on eighth-placed West Brom, seven points ahead of the Potters before kickoff.
Speaking ahead of today's game, Shakespeare gave his thoughts on the record he could potentially break with a fourth straight league victory. He said: "With all the records, I'm very conscious you have to keep a bit of humility about it. We know that it wasn't so long ago that our form was being questioned. We know that at the moment we are playing with a lot of confidence, but that word 'humility' has to be important from my point of view towards the players to keep them level-headed. We also... make sure there is no complacency."
And here are Hughes's thoughts ahead of kickoff: "It's difficult to win away games in the Premier League. The most we've achieved in a season is six. More often then not we take games to the opposition and look to win. We'll see where that takes us over the remainder of the season. Leicester are playing well at the moment. They are a fully committed side. We need to ensure their key players don't have an impact."
HEAD TO HEAD: Leicester have lost just one of their five previous Premier League games against Stoke, winning two and drawing two. The Potters, meanwhile, have been the victors just once in their last eight trips to Leicester in all competitions.
Two of the last three encounters have produced a Leicester fightback from two goals down to draw 2-2 - Stoke were the hosts in both games.
Leonardo Ulloa, on the bench for Leicester today, has scored in three of his previous five Premier League games against Stoke, but hasn't featured in a league game for the Foxes since January.
Leicester are the only Premier League side yet to drop a point from a winning position this season, claiming victory in all eight games where they have gone in front.
The Foxes could win three successive home league games for the first time since a similar sequence between January and February 2016 - which included a 3-0 win against Stoke.
The last time Stoke failed to score in four consecutive top-flight away games was during a five-match streak between January and March 2011.
The Potters have picked up just four points in seven away games in the Premier League since the start of December, with one win, one draw and five losses.
One positive stat for Stoke, though, is that all nine of their league wins this season have come against teams currently in the bottom eight.
PREDICTION: Time for me to have a go at predicting today's result at the KP. With Leicester in great form and still looking to make sure of survival, I tip them to win against Stoke, who have little to play for at this stage. 2-1 to the hosts.
The players are lined up in the tunnel and on the verge of heading out onto the pitch.
And here they come. The teams are now out on the King Power pitch and shaking hands, with the start of this game just a few minutes away.
KICKOFF! Lee Mason is the referee today and he gets the action underway as Stoke kick off!
Stoke win the first corner of the game as Walters works the ball into space on the left and lofts it into the box, but Ndidi gets a touch on it to put it behind. Arnautovic swings the ball in but it's cleared.
Now Leicester come forward as Fuchs picks out Okazaki with a probing ball, but the move is snuffed out by Pieters, who takes a blow in the process, though he eventually gets up and is alright to continue.
CHANCE! A sniff of goal for the hosts as Mahrez's free kick pinballs around the Stoke box before Benalouane connects and drills a shot just wide of the post.
Some good, confident team play by Leicester as they string together short, slick passes and show plenty of urgency.
Mahrez brings the ball inside from the right and finds Gray, who weaves his way into the box but is unable to break past four Stoke players keeping guard.
Walters tries to connect with a deep cross from Johnson in the box, but Schmeichel catches the ball with ease in his 250th match for Leicester.
BOOKING: Gray skips beyond Allen but is hacked down by Shawcross, who picks up a yellow for his troubles, while the Leicester man appears to be in pain amid concern from his bench about whether he is able to continue.
CHANCES! A sustained spell of pressure from Leicester following a Fuchs free kick sees efforts from Huth and Okazaki cleared off the line before Vardy's strike sails wide of the near post.
Shawcross puts the ball out of play from Fuchs's dangerous cross, the corner is swung in towards Huth and Ndidi but Stoke eventually manage to clear the ball to safety.
CHANCE! Pieters sends a low cross into the Leicester six-yard box, where Schmeichel turns it behind, and from the corner the hosts clear and launch a counterattack which ends in Gray firing a long-range effort just past Grant's right-hand post.
GOAL! LEICESTER 1-0 STOKE (WILFRED NDIDI)
Leicester deservedly take the lead in stunning fashion through Ndidi, who picks up a Drinkwater pass about 25 yards from goal, takes a touch and drills a ferocious shot into the top corner!
Stoke try to respond swiftly, but Leicester's defence keeps out a dangerous-looking free kick that was floated into the box 25 yards from goal.
BOOKING: Leicester break through Gray, who is hacked down by Whelan, and Mason does not hesitate to show the Stoke man a yellow card.
More pressure from the hosts as Fuchs's free kick finds its way to Mahrez for a volley and deflects just wide for a corner, but Stoke manage to boot the ball out of danger after being swung in.
CHANCE! A dangerous moment for Leicester as Arnautovic turns inside their box but drills his snapshot into the side netting.
CHANCE! But here come Leicester again with more attacking intent as Gray's goalbound shot is deflected over for a corner, and from the set piece, Okazaki tries an acrobatic overhead kick that flies just over the bar.
CHANCES! End-to-end stuff here as a rapid Stoke counter ends with Berahino drilling the ball into Schmeichel's grasp, and the next passage of play sees Grant turn Mahrez's curling effort from the edge of the box behind for a corner, which is then cleared.
A free kick for Leicester as Shawcross - already on a yellow card - brings down Vardy, which Mahrez takes from a tight angle on the right, but it doesn't beat Stoke's first defender.
Sobhi shows some neat footwork before lofting a chipped pass from the byline into the box, but Schmeichel is quickest to intercept the ball.
We'll have a minimum of two added minutes at the end of the first half.
HALF TIME: LEICESTER 1-0 STOKE
That's the halfway point of the game and Leicester are narrowly ahead against Stoke thanks to a stunning Wilfred Ndidi goal from range.
Craig Shakespeare will be feeling pleased with his side's efforts so far in the game, as they have dominated proceedings and done well to repel the handful of Stoke attacks that came their way.
2 - Both of Wilfred Ndidi's goals for Leicester City have been scored from outside the box (one in the PL, one in the FA Cup). Missile. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 1, 2017
The match stats are clearly in Leicester's favour at this stage, the hosts boasting 53 percent possession, 13 shots, two of which were on target, and seven corners. In contrast, the Potters end the half with 47 percent possession, just two shots, of which one was on target, and two corners. They have also committed seven fouls and have two players, Ryan Shawcross and Glenn Whelan, in the book.
As things stand, Leicester are 14th in the Premier League table on 33 points, and nine points clear of the bottom three. Will this be the case at 5pm? Sports Mole is on hand to bring you all the action as it happens!
KICKOFF: We are back underway at the King Power as Mason blows his whistle and Leicester kick off.
GOAL! LEICESTER 2-0 STOKE (JAMIE VARDY)
Well, that didn't take long! Leicester double their lead through Vardy, who is on hand to connect with Simpson's cross at the far post and rifle a ferocious volley past Grant, who didn't even move!
Vardy has now scored four goals and assisted two more in his three Premier League appearances under Shakespeare for Leicester, an incredible return to form compared to how he was doing in the opening two-thirds of the season.
It's all Leicester now and they decide to turn the screw on against their beleaguered opponents, Ndidi scuffing a shot following good work from Gray and, moments later, Mahrez teeing up Fuchs for a left-footed shot which Grant does well to save.
SUBSTITUTION: Stoke make the first change of the game as Crouch replaces Walters up front.
CHANCE! A sniff of goal for Stoke as Allen lofts a ball over the top for Arnautovic, but the latter struggles to get a good connection and he finds the side netting.
CHANCE! Leicester are showing their impressive counter-attacking credentials as another break sees Gray thread a through-ball into the path of Okazaki, who drills towards goal from a tight angle, but Grant is in the way and forces the ball behind for a corner, which comes to nothing as Huth is penalised for a foul in the box.
BOOKING: Leicester are shown their first yellow card of the match as Fuchs is cautioned for a foul on Sobhi.
Ndidi dispossesses Allen and marauds down the middle of the pitch before crossing out to Vardy on the left, the England striker then attempting to pick out Okazaki but putting too much on the ball.
CHANCE! Vardy breaks down the left and cuts the ball back into the path of Mahrez, but the Algerian's close-range effort is straight at Grant, though the ball is not cleared and Mahrez gets another chance to try and drill home, only for the Stoke stopper to thwart his opponent once again.
CHANCE! But here come Stoke, desperate to get back into the game as Arnautovic breaks clear down the right and sends a cross into the box, but Crouch fluffs his lines and drills his effort wide of the right-hand post.
BOOKING: Another caution for Stoke as Crouch follows through late on Okazaki near the right-hand touchline.
SUBSTITUTIONS: That's all of Stoke's substitutions as Hughes opts to make his final two changes at once, Berahino making way for Diouf and Whelan coming off for Adam.
DISALLOWED GOAL! This could prove to be controversial - Stoke have the ball in the net through Arnautovic but the assistant's flag goes up for offside, although replays suggest that the Austrian timed his run perfectly.
SUBSTITUTION: First change of the day for Leicester as Amartey comes on for Okazaki.
CHANCE! Leicester are now having to cope with a spell of Stoke pressure as substitute Adam blasts an effort just over the bar.
Adam curls a cross in from the left flank, but Schmeichel does well to come out and claim the ball under pressure from Crouch.
CHANCE! Almost a third for the Foxes as another counter ends with Mahrez in a great position in front of goal after Vardy flicked on Schmeichel's long ball, but the ball is dragged wide.
SUBSTITUTION: Vardy gets a standing ovation from the Leicester fans as his shift for the day is up, with Slimani taking his place on the pitch.
Just over five minutes plus stoppage time left in this encounter and Stoke simply do not look capable of nicking a goal back as play is brought back due to Arnautovic being offside.
CHANCE! Grant has to be at his best once again as he pulls off a full-stretch save to deny Gray, who had struck from outside the box, with the resulting corner coming to nothing.
SUBSTITUTION: A huge round of applause by the Leicester fans for Gray as he makes way for Chilwell in the final change of the game.
CHANCE! Leicester, who probably have goal difference on their mind, continue to press as Mahrez tests Grant from distance, though the Stoke keeper is well positioned to claim as four minutes of stoppage time are announced by the officials.
CHANCE! Stoke are not giving up just yet either, Crouch getting in front of his man in the six-yard box, but forcing his header over the bar.
FULL TIME: LEICESTER CITY 2-0 STOKE CITY
Full time at the King Power Stadium and the Leicester City renaissance continues as the hosts claim a 2-0 win over Stoke City, thanks to great strikes from Wilfred Ndidi and Jamie Vardy.
That's all we have time for today from the East Midlands but Sports Mole will be on hand to bring you all the latest news, match reports and reaction from today's big games. Thank you for following and, until next time, goodbye.
Written by
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte
