MX23RW : Saturday, December 14 16:01:33| >> :60:1293:1293:
[monks data]
Leicester logo
Premier League
Feb 27, 2016 at 3pm UK
 
Norwich logo

1-0

Ulloa (89')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Leicester City strike late to move five points clear

Leonardo Ulloa scores a late winner against Norwich to send Leicester five points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

Leicester City have moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League table courtesy of a 1-0 victory over Norwich City at the King Power Stadium this afternoon.

The relegation-threatened Canaries looked to be on course for their first away clean sheet of the season, but Leonardo Ulloa got the only goal of the game in the final minute of normal time to secure all three points for the league leaders.

Riyad Mahrez and Robbie Brady in action during the Premier League game between Leicester City and Norwich City on February 27, 2016© Getty Images

The visitors had picked up just one point from the last 18 on offer going into the game, but they were the first to threaten when Nathan Redmond skipped forward and sent Cameron Jerome through, only for Kasper Schmeichel to prevent the Norwich striker from taking the ball past him.

For the most part, Leicester struggled to develop their usual fluency in possession, but they did have a decent spell around the 15-minute mark when first Shinji Okazaki saw his flick from close range blocked before Marc Albrighton's low cross was turned just past his own post by Russell Martin.

The Foxes' best chance of the first half came on the break as Okazaki and Jamie Vardy combined to find Riyad Mahrez, who weaved his way past two defenders before seeing his eventual shot blocked.

Albrighton sent another effort wide of the target moments later, and then came close to breaking the deadlock in more unorthodox fashion when his dangerous cross from a free kick bounced inches wide of the far post.

The best chance of the half went the way of the visitors, though, when Jerome glanced his header wide of the far post from Robbie Brady's corner when it looked certain that the striker would open the scoring.

Cameron Jerome makes an attempt during the Premier League game between Leicester City and Norwich City on February 27, 2016© Getty Images

The first shot on target finally arrived with two minutes remaining of the opening 45 when Redmond drilled a low strike towards goal that Schmeichel turned behind in unconvincing fashion.

It took until the 58th minute for Leicester to register their first shot on target in the game, and it was a relatively comfortable one for John Ruddy to deal with as he got down in plenty of time to keep out Vardy's low drive.

Another followed 10 minutes later, but once again it was a routine save for Ruddy as this time Albrighton sent a tame shot into the keeper's arms after a loose ball had broken to him 25 yards from goal.

Norwich came close to winning it in the closing stages when Redmond was allowed to cut inside from the left flank and arrow an effort towards the far corner, but it whistled just past the post with Schmeichel beaten.

Leonardo Ulloa celebrates finding the winner during the Premier League game between Leicester City and Norwich City on February 27, 2016© Getty Images

It was Leicester who would get the decisive goal, however, as Ulloa tucked home Albrighton's low cross at the back post to break Norwich hearts and secure a return to winning ways for the Foxes.

Norwich did have a late opening to rescue a point in stoppage time when the ball broke to Patrick Bamford, but he skewed his effort wide of the target as his side's winless streak in the league stretched to seven matches.

ID:267358: cacheID:267358:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6867:
Written by
Barney Corkhill
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur at The King Power Stadium on August 22, 2015
Read Next:
Ranieri: 'Mahrez has been magical'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!