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Attendance: 32,018
Leicester logo
Premier League
Mar 1, 2016 at 7.45pm UK
 
West Brom logo

2-2

Olsson (31' og.), King (45')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Rondon (12'), Gardner (50')

Preview: Leicester City vs. West Bromwich Albion

Sports Mole previews Tuesday's Premier League clash between Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion at the King Power Stadium.

Premier League leaders Leicester City will attempt to continue their consolidate first position in the table when they welcome Tony Pulis's West Bromwich Albion to the King Power on Tuesday night.

The Foxes struck late on against Norwich City at the weekend to stretch their lead at the summit, while West Brom beat Crystal Palace 3-2 on the same afternoon to jump into 13th position in the top flight.


Leicester

Reverend Claudio Ranieri during the Premier League game between Arsenal and Leicester City on February 14, 2016© Getty Images

Approaching the full-time whistle against Norwich at the weekend, Leicester were on the verge of dropping two vital points, which as it transpired, would have actually seen them knocked off the top this weekend due to Tottenham Hotspur's subsequent win over Swansea City on Sunday. Leonardo Ulloa struck a vital 89th-minute winner, however, to ensure that Claudio Ranieri's side collected all the points on home soil.

The victory over Norwich was even more important considering that Leicester had been beaten - 2-1 at Arsenal - in their last league match. The Foxes ended the weekend top of the pile - two points clear of second-placed Tottenham and now five points clear of Arsenal, who lost at Manchester United.

According to the bookmakers, Spurs are now the favourites to lift the crown, but Leicester have not followed the script this season and will be confident of putting another three points on the board here. A tough start to 2016 was supposed to derail Leicester's title challenge, but they have won five of their last seven in the league and only lost once.

Ten of the last 12 teams to have been top of the Premier League on March 1 have gone on to win the title that season, and Ranieri will look at his team's next four games - this one, Watford, Newcastle and Crystal Palace - confident of a strong return of points. The fairytale is showing no signs of ending, but there are still 11 games to play.

It is actually 463 minutes since Leicester last conceded a home goal in the Premier League, however, which is a run that stretches five matches and includes games against Manchester City, Liverpool and Stoke City.

The likes of Spurs, Arsenal and Man City all have other competitions to focus on in the final months of the season, but Leicester will be able to prepare for each league game without any distractions. It is an obvious advantage, but as Sir Alex Ferguson would say, it is very much squeaky bum time at the King Power Stadium.

Recent form: DWWWLW
Recent form (all competitions): LWWWLW


West Brom

West Bromwich Albion's Welsh head coach Tony Pulis gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion at Anfield in Liverpool, northwest England, on December 13, 2015© Getty Images

Leicester will fancy their chances of collecting all the points on Tuesday, but West Brom will enter the match off the back of successive league wins, including an impressive 1-0 success at Everton in their last league away game.

The Baggies have actually only lost one of their last five in the league, which is a run of form that has moved them into 13th position in the table and now 11 points clear of the relegation zone. Pulis's side beat Palace by the odd goal in five last weekend in a match that saw Saido Berahino star for the club once again.

It has been a difficult 12 months for the England Under-21 international, but he has since apologised for his actions following the breakdown of a move to Tottenham Hotspur and Pulis was also full of praise for the striker at the weekend. West Brom will need to watch Jamie Vardy, but Berahino has the credentials to hurt Leicester's back four.

Pulis will also be keen to pick up a result in this match as he looks ahead to upcoming games against Manchester United and Arsenal in their next two. It seems unlikely that the Baggies would get drawn into a relegation battle after two impressive wins, but there are still 33 points to play for in the top flight.

The Baggies are also unbeaten in their last six away trips to Leicester - winning five times in the process. If another victory follows on Tuesday, it would be the first time since November 2012 that West Brom have recorded three straight wins in the Premier League and the first time since Pulis took charge.

Goals have been hard to find this season, with just 27 registered in their 27 matches, but they have only conceded 34 times, which is a solid record in relation to the teams around them. The pressure will once again be on Leicester and that could play into the hands of an improving West Brom.

Recent form: LDDLWW
Recent form (all competitions): DLWWLW


Team News

N'Golo Kante of Leicester looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur on August 22, 2015© Getty Images

At his pre-match press conference, Ranieri revealed that French midfielder N'Golo Kante would miss Leicester's next two matches with a hamstring problem, but insisted that it is "nothing serious".

Jeffrey Schlupp is once again available for selection and could start, while Danny Simpson is free to take part after serving a one-game suspension following his red at Arsenal.

Simpson could replace Daniel Amartey at right-back, with the midfielder, who debuted against Norwich, taking Kante's spot in the middle of the park. Ulloa is expected to remain on the bench, meanwhile, despite his winner last time out.

As for West Brom, a knee problem will keep Chris Brunt on the sidelines, while Jonny Evans and James Morrison are still unavailable for selection due to hamstring injuries.

James Chester is expected to come into the side at left-back, while Stephane Sessegnon, who impressed against Palace, should continue in attack alongside Berahino and Salomon Rondon.

Leicester possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Albrighton, Amartey, Drinkwater, Mahrez; Vardy, Okazaki

West Brom possible starting lineup:
Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Chester; Gardner, Jacob, Fletcher; Berahino, Rondon, Sessegnon


Head To Head

Tuesday's clash will be the 105th meeting between the two teams in all competitions. West Brom have recorded 50 victories, Leicester 34, while the remaining 34 games have finished level.

As mentioned, West Brom are also unbeaten in their last six away trips to Leicester, which has included five wins. Incredibly, seven of the last eight meetings between the two teams have actually ended as away victories.

In terms of the more recent clashes, Leicester recorded a 3-2 victory when the pair met at The Hawthorns earlier this season, but the Baggies were 1-0 winners when they last visited the King Power in the league - November 2014.


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We say: Leicester 1-1 West Brom

These are the matches that will determine whether Leicester can win the title this season. They struggled to break down Norwich at the weekend and West Brom will enter this match full of confidence and under no pressure.

It would not be surprising to see Leicester collect all the points, but West Brom have been impressive in their last two matches and the return of Berahino has been a big boost. We are backing a low-scoring draw on Tuesday night.



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Saido Berahino shakes hands with Tony Pulis during the FA Cup game between West Brom and Bristol City on January 9, 2016
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