Leicester City survived a late scare to beat Norwich City 2-1 in an entertaining game at Carrow Road.
Jamie Vardy gave the Foxes the lead from the penalty spot and Jeff Sclupp doubled Leicester's advantage just minutes after the interval.
Dieumerci Mbokani's introduction sparked Norwich into life and the Congolese striker gave Norwich a lifeline in the 68th minute but Leicester held on to secure all three points.
Read how it all unfolded in our live minute-by-minute commentary below.
Hello! Thanks for coming along this afternoon! Both sides have scored plenty of goals this season, so let's hope for more of the same today!
Before we delve into anything, let's get the breaking team news.
Norwich City: Ruddy; Whittaker, Martin, Bassong, Brady; Howson, Dorrans, Tettey, Jarvis; Hoolahan; Jerome
Subs: Rudd, Mbokani, Lafferty, Redmond, Olsson, R Bennett, O'Neil
Subs: Rudd, Mbokani, Lafferty, Redmond, Olsson, R Bennett, O'Neil
Leicester City: Schmeichel; Simpson, Huth, Morgan, Fuchs; Albrighton, Kanté, Drinkwater, Schlupp; Okazaki, Vardy
Subs: Schwarzer, De Laet, King, Ulloa, Mahrez, Beanlouane, Inler
Subs: Schwarzer, De Laet, King, Ulloa, Mahrez, Beanlouane, Inler
Norwich have made just the one change from last weekend's 2-2 draw with West Ham. Matt Jarvis slots in at left-midfield, pushing Robbie Brady back to left-back. That means there's no place in the starting XI for Martin Olsson, who is among the substitutes.
Meanwhile, Claudio Ranieri clearly wasn't pleased with what he saw in the 5-2 defeat to Arsenal seven days ago. Ritchie de Laet is replaced by Danny Simpson at right-back. Christian Fuchs also comes in on the left-hand side of defence, with Jeff Schlupp moving into midfield. The big news is that Riyad Mahrez doesn't start. He's set the league alight this season, so that does seem a strange decision!
Claudio Ranieri told the club's official Twitter account the reasons why Danny Simpson and Christian Fuchs are in the side, but he's remained tight-lipped about leaving Riyad Mahrez out.
Claudio: "Simpson (RB) and @FuchsOfficial (LB) are in good condition. It's the right moment for them to show their qualities." #NorLei
— Leicester City (@LCFC) October 3, 2015
A very strange decision by Claudio Ranieri to leave out Riyad Mahrez. He struggled last week, but he's been in scintillating form so far this season. The Algerian has scored five goals, which is just one less than top goalscorer, Jamie Vardy.
Norwich have added just a little more attacking impetus to their side by bringing in Matt Jarvis this afternoon. Martin Olsson is primarily a defensive left-back, but Robbie Brady will be looking to get forward.
Here are the Sports Mole gang having a natter about the game:
If that doesn't float your boat, then how about this video of Barney Corkhill and Pascal Lemesre previewing the game?
If you liked what you heard in the audio clip, then make sure to subscribe to Sports Mole's free weekly preview podcast!
Anyway, let's get back to Carrow Road. Norwich have certainly impressed since their return to the Premier League. The Canaries lie 12th as things stand and could move in to the top half with a victory today. They're unbeaten in their last four games too, a run which includes impressive away draws at West Ham and Liverpool.
What's more, they have lost just twice this season. The first was an opening-day 3-1 loss to Crystal Palace, while the other was a 3-0 capitulation at Southampton. As disappointing as those results will have been, Alex Neil will be delighted with the way his side have acclimatised to life back in the top tier.
One man who has been in particularly fine form is centre-back Russell Martin. The Norwich skipper is their joint-top goalscorer, with three goals to his name already! Nathan Redmond joined him on three goals with his goal from the bench last weekend, but wasn't enough to earn him a place in the starting XI, which seems a slightly odd decision.
How about Leicester? Well, they've won plenty of fans with their scintillating attacking play so far this term. They lead the way (along with West Ham) in terms of league goals scored this season, with 15 to their name. They've conceded a whopping 14 goals in seven games though. Only Sunderland have let in more.
Leicester's leaky defence doesn't seem to concern Claudio Ranieri though. The Italian said this week that he would never go into a game looking to draw 0-0. Good on him!
Although Riyad Mahrez doesn't start this afternoon, Leicester's leading goalscorer Jamie Vardy does. The striker, who earned a call-up to the England squad yesterday, has been playing with a cast protecting a broken wrist recently, but it certainly hasn't affected his form - he's netted five in his last four league matches!
Here are the Leicester players going through their paces in the warm-up:
PICTURED: The squad warm up to face @NorwichCityFC at 3pm. #NorLei pic.twitter.com/FU1E7MafGK
— Leicester City (@LCFC) October 3, 2015
Leicester have certainly shown with their form from March onwards that they are comfortable in the Premier League, but Alex Neil believes that his side are just as settled in the top flight.
UPDATE: There's already been one result in the league today and that saw Crystal Palace score two late goals to beat West Brom 2-0. You can read Chris O'Keefe's report here.
UPDATE: There's also been an early kikcoff in the Championship, where Wolves won 3-0 at home to Huddersfield.
Just a few minutes until, we're underway so that means it's time for me to make a prediction. I'm fancying goals today, and I'm going to go with a 3-2 win for Leicester!
I'm still baffled by the decision to drop Mahrez. This is only the eighth game of the season, so surely he doesn't need a rest already?
The Algerian is already sitting on the bench at Carrow Road and he looks rather glum. I can't blame him. Claudio Ranieri is certainly living up to his 'Tinker Man' moniker today!
So, the subs are out. It's a matter of seconds until the starters also make their way out of the tunnel.
Nathan Redmond doesn't start either, which is bonkers considering this impressive stat!
Nathan Redmond has been directly involved in 12 goals in his last 14 league games for Norwich. Great contribution. pic.twitter.com/L0VJIrRAdD
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) October 3, 2015
Here we go then, the sides are out!
KICKOFF: Leicester get us underway!
A quiet start at Carrow Road so far.
SHOT! Jerome receives Howson's pass on the edge of the box before swivelling and firing a shot over the bar. It was never in trouble of going in, but a positive first impression by the hosts.
The game has begun at a rather frantic pace!
Albrighton swings in a cross from a deep position, but Bassong easily clears.
CHANCE! Albrighton is in again down the right wing and pounces on a mistake from Tettey to reach the byline. He fires the ball into Okazaki, who can only head over the bar. It was a tough chance and the ball needed to be better from Albrighton, but he did well to get into that position.
Simpson lets a pass from Drinkwater bounce and Norwich are over him like a rash, forcing a rushed clearance from the right-back.
Both sides a surrendering possession rather easily, but that's come about from the pressure both sides are applying to the other.
Tettey's having a shocking first few minutes. He inexplicably passes the ball straight to Vaardy, but the Leicester striker can't take advantage and Norwich regain the ball.
Fuchs almost feeds Okazaki with a sumptuous 60-yard ball fro the left-back spot, but it's just too strong for the forward.
Ranieri screams at his side to push up, but Norwich are happy to play out from the back and a calm pass from Ruddy to Martin takes three Leicester players out of the game. Very impressive stuff from the England international.
Schlupp and Fuchs scrap and fight to win the ball back from Howson and win a a free kick for their side.
Howson's shown plenty of endeavour down the right early on and gets the better of Huth on this occasion. The ball is worked back to Whittaker, but the full-back neither shoots nor crosses and the ball rolls harmlessly out for a goal kick.
It's a corner to Norwich after Jerome's cross is headed behind by Kante.
Brady's corner is punched clear by Schmeichel, but Kante is there again as he nips the ball off the toes of Howson to concede another corner.
SAVE! Vardy is rapid! A long ball releases the Leicester forward down the left and he breezes past a static Howson. He can't find Okazaki in the middle, so opts to shoot from a very narrow angle and Ruddy kicks the shot away with his legs.
Vardy swings in a ball from a deep position which finds Okazaki, but the forward - who has his back to goal - balloons his header over the bar from 12 yards. The flag was up anyway.
BLOCK! Martin throws his body on the line to block Schlupp's goalbound effort from finding the far corner.
CHANCE! Vardy flicks on a long throw into the centre of the box but Albrighton can't quite apply the finishing touch with a mass of Norwich bodies crowding him out. Drinkwater arrives to follow-up, but Ruddy makes a sprawling save to deny the midfielder. Leicester are getting closer!
PENALTY! Leicester win a penalty as Bassong trips Vardy.
Vardy will take the penalty...
GOAL! Norwich City 0-1 Leicester City (Jamie Vardy)
Was it ever in doubt? Vardy sends Ruddy the wrong way from the spot and smashes the penalty to the left of the goalkeeper!
It was a debatable decision by Clattenburg to give the penalty. Bassong was certainly clumsy, but there seemed to be minimal contact with Vardy.
CLOSE! Schlupp is inches away from making it 2-0! Albrighton does brilliantly to squrim free on the right and plays a dangerous ball across the face of the six-yard box. Schlupp flings himslef at it, but just couldn't reach the ball.
Schlupp's in again down the left, but his cross is cut out. Leicester are well on top here.
Hoolahan is down on the turf receiving treatment and it doesn't look good. Redmond is taking off his tracksuit.
Well, it looks as though Hoolahan may well be continuing. Redmond's tracksuit is back on and Hoolahan has returned to the pitch.
Vardy's worrying Bassong again as he closes down a clearance. Thankfully for the Norwich defender it bounces out for a goal kick.
Six goals in Vardy's last five games. Now that's impressive.
5 - Jamie Vardy has now scored in five successive Premier League games. Guarantee.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 3, 2015
Brady whips in a cross from the left, but it's behind everyone and Schlupp clears.
Dorrans cuts inside onto his right foot and sends a dangerous inswinging ball into the box, which Huth stretches for and clears for a corner.
Yikes! Martin has three goals already this season, but he's not even close to finding the back of the net with a wild 25-yard strike. That just about sums up Norwich's first half so far.
Trouble at the back this time, as Martin lets a long ball bounce. Okazaki challenges with Ruddy and the pair end up in a scrappy mess on the floor, with Clattenburg pointing for a goal kick.
Vardy is an absolute menace on the break. Drinkwater releases his teammate with a perfectly-weighted long ball. Vardy then waits for support and almost picks out Okazaki with a cross, but Tettey arrives just in time to head behind for a corner.
Jarvis goes down under a challenge on the edge of the box, but Clattenburg is simply not interested and waves play on.
THREE MINUTES OF ADDED TIME
Dorrans loses control of the ball on the edge of the box and Leicester break with Vardy. Okazaki, as always, runs ahead of his teammate, but he can't return the favour as his reverse ball is just too strong for his strike partner.
HALF TIME: Norwich City 0-1 Leicester City
Leicester are very good value for their lead. It may well have been a soft penalty, but the Foxes have had plenty of chances.
Norwich have been insipid in all honesty. Aside from Jerome's early strike, they've offered next-to-nothing in an attacking sense. And now that they have to chase the game, Vardy's pace on the break is causing them all sorts of problems.
UPDATE: Some interesting scorelines from around the Premier League at half time. Man City grabbed a late first-half goal to go in level at 1-1 with Newcastle, while Sunderland lead 2-1 against West Ham. For a full list of the scores as things stand, click here.
Here's the moment Vardy gave Leicester the lead from the spot. He's been very impressive so far in all aspects of his game.
© Getty Images
© Getty Images
If you want a concise reminder of the first-half happenings, here is Tom Nightingale's half-time report.
Better than Ronaldo and Messi...?
Vardy has scored 7 league goals so far this season. That's more than Ronaldo (5) and Messi (3) #LCFC
— Rock n Roll Football (@RnRFootball) October 3, 2015
KICKOFF: Norwich kick off proceedings in the second half. They'll need to produce a much better performance in the second period if they're too take anything from the game.
CLOSE! So nearly an own-goal from Fuchs seconds after the restart as he heads a cross onto the roof of his own net under pressure from Jerome!
From the resulting corner, Bassong tees up a teammate but Fuchs is there again to block.
GOAL! Norwich City 0-2 Leicester City (Jeff Schlupp)
It's a wonderful counter-attacking goal from Leicester! Kante collects Schlupp's pass and feeds his teammate with a through ball. The winger composes himself before lashing a powerful, left-footed strike into the far corner of the net! Great goal!
SUBSTITUTION: Redmond - who was ready to come on in the first half - eventually makes his way onto the pitch to replace Dorrans. An attacking substitute.
Boos from the home support as Jerome goes down under contact from Huth. The Leicester defender's hands were on Jerome, but there wasn't enough pressure to make him fall to the floor in the way he did. Having said that, Leicester were awarded a soft penalty...
UPDATE: Errr, you know Newcastle were holding Man City at 1-1 at half time? It's now 3-1 thanks to a Sergio Aguero hat-trick. Normal service resumed.
Leicester have the chance to swing a free kick from the left flank. Albrighton's standing over it and although Huth's header drops just wide, he is penalised for a blatant push on Jerome.
Norwich are panicky in possession, but much of that is down to the great pressure Leicester are applying.
Hoolahan escapes down the right and wins a corner from the sliding Morgan.
Huth bravely heads the ball behind at the far post. It'll be another Norwich corner.
Leicester swarm forward in numbers after Schmeichel punches the corner clear. Vardy is in acres of space on the far side of the pitch, but Albrighton can't find him and Ruddy collects the loose ball. It was a tough ask, but it was a chance to put the game to bed.
SUBSTITUTION: Norwich will go with a front two as the unpronounceable Mboknai replaces Jarvis.
Norwich certainly have a physical threat now and they've earned another corner.
Mbokani has the chance to make an immediate impact, but completely misses his header. Norwich then appeal en mass for handball against Morgan, but it struck the Leicester captain on the neck. A good decision by Clattenburg.
Mbokani's introduction has lifted Norwich, who have started to see much more of the ball.
Ruddy almost gets himself in bother as Vardy nicks the ball of his toes 30 yards out, but the goalkeeper recovers to smother the ball in his area.
BOOKING: Huth goes into the book for berating Clattenburg. The reason he dissented was because he felt that play should have been stopped with Simpson on the floor, but Leicester had the chance to put the ball out of play... which they refused.
Another corner for Norwich. I've lost count of how many they've had!
Brady's corner is cleared and although the ball comes back out to him, his second ball goes straight into the arms of Schmeichel.
A long ball nearly releases Vardy, but he can't control the ball on the stretch and it rolls through to Ruddy.
CHANCE! Mbokani goes close twice! He flings himself at a right-wing cross but can't quite make contact. Brady floats a second cross to the far post though and Mbokani rattles the bar with a towering header. Great attempt!
GOAL! Norwich City 1-2 Leicester City (Dieumerci Mbokani)
Game on! It was an easy finish from Mbokani, who tapped home from four yards from a deep cross Weve got an exciting final 20 minutes or so on our hands!
Brady makes a crucial interception to stop Vardy from netting his second before Mbokani heads the resulting corner behind.
SUBSTITUTION: Ulloa comes on to replace Okazaki.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Ulloa skips away to celebrate with the Leicester fans after heading into an empty net at the far post, but Clattenburg had already blown for a foul on Ruddy by Huth. That looked a soft decision.
Actually, on second glance Huth did hand off Ruddy. Having said that, the Norwich goalkeeper was nowhere near the ball.
Morgan blocks a Hoolahan strike and Schlupp wildly hacks the ball clear. The home crowd are up for this and it's been a totally different game since the introduction of Mbokani!
Schlupp sends a wayward long shot over the bar. Less than 15 minutes for Norwich to find a leveller.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Leicester's second goalscorer Schlupp makes way for King, while Lafferty comes on for Jerome in Norwich's final throw of the dice.
Brady wastes the chance to test Leicester as he scuffs his free kick and it's cleared by the first man.
Vardy has collapsed in a heap after an innocuous-looking challenge with Brady. He looks to be in quite some discomfort.
The replay seems to suggest that he jarred his knee as he landed, which is not usually a good sign.
Well, he's on his feet at least, but Vardy is hobbling off the pitch. I'd be surprised if he continues.
After that lengthy stoppage, we're back under way and Norwich are straight on the attack, winning their umpteenth corner of the day.
Surprisingly, Vardy is back on the pitch, but he's definitely not moving freely.
Bassong gets involved in an off-the-ball incident with Huth and Clattenburg blows for a foul in Leicester's favour.
CHANCE! I doubt I'll be getting a job as a physio anytime soon. Vardy twists and turns Bassong before dragging a shot wide of the far post from 15 yards. He should have done better, but there seemed to be nothing wrong with his knee then!
It's backs-to-the-wall stuff for Leicester. Even Ulloa is playing as an auxiliary second left-back.
POST! Redmond stands up Fuchs and steps outside him before firing a ferocious shot towards goal from a tight angle. It clips the outside of the post, but Schmeichel must have got a touch as a corner is given.
The ball is down the other end now an it'll be a Leicester corner. Unsurprisingly, Albrighton is ambling over to take it.
CHANCE! Huth passes up the chance to put the game to bed and he sends a header over the bar from eight yards. A glorious chance!
We're into the last minute. Can Leicester hold on?
CHANCE! Vardy with another chance. The forward's movement has been sensational this afternoon. He looks shattered but still runs into the channel to collect a through ball before running at Bassong one-on-one. His left-footed strike deflects behind for a corner.
SIX MINUTES OF ADDED TIME
Huth heads a cross away before Kante blocks a shot at the far post. Desperate measures now for the Foxes!
CHANCE! It's by no means a clear-cut chance, but Bassong will be disappointed not to test Schmeichel with a header from 12 yards from Brady's floated cross. It sails over, but Bassong is now playing at centre-forward!
Whittaker stumbles into Fuchs but does just enough to win a corner for his side. Only Tettey and Ruddy are back for Norwich.
CHANCE! Drinkwater leads a four-on-one counter-attack, but he delays and his pass is slightly behind Vardy, who can only fire straight at Ruddy. Norwich come forward again!
CLOSE! Redmond plays a one-two with Redmond and the winger's left-footed shot deflects just wide of the near post off the back of Drinkwater.
Carnage inside the Leicester area from Norwich's 17th corner! Martin almost hooks home from inside the six-yard area, but Morgan sticks his head into a melee of flying boots to clear. Surely that's it?
FULL TIME: Norwich City 1-2 Leicester City
It's all over! Leicester hung on by the skin of their teeth, but Norwich certainly made them work for that!
On the balance of play though, Leicester deserved to win. They had a fair share of their own late chances and could have easily won by a couple of goals more. A fantastic match though and both sides can hold their heads high after a frenetic second half!
I need to lie down in a darkk room after all that late excitement, so I'm off. Make sure to stick around on Sports Mole though, where there will be plenty of reaction to today's games and live commentaries from Twickenham and Stamford Bridge. Until next time!
Written by
Kristian Johnson
Kristian Johnson
