City to come from behind and seal a 3-2 Premier League win
at Midlands rivals West Brom on Saturday.
Salomon Rondon gave the hosts the lead with a powerful
header after half an hour amid an otherwise bright start from
Claudio Ranieri's men, who came close early on when
Jamie Vardy saw an effort tipped onto the post.
Leicester continued to threaten and drew level just after
half-time when Mahrez got ahead of his man to volley home
Marc Albrighton's superb cross, before the two players
combined again just after the hour to edge the visitors in
front at The Hawthorns.
And a thoroughly satisfying afternoon for third-
placed Leicester was wrapped up 13 minutes from time as
Vardy broke away from the defence to slot home his 11th
league goal of the season, although West Brom did respond
through a late penalty from Rickie Lambert, who was also
denied by the woodwork in the dying seconds.
Vardy's goal edges him closer to Ruud van Nistelrooy's
record of scoring in 10 consecutive Premier League fixtures
and will see the 28-year old earn plenty more plaudits.
Premier League top scorer Vardy nearly gave the visitors an
ideal start inside 10 minutes, getting behind Gareth McAuley
before seeing a stinging drive tipped onto the post by
goalkeeper Boaz Myhill.
Albrighton drilled just wide from 25 yards 10 minutes later
as West Brom, unchanged from the 1-0 win at Norwich City
last weekend, continued to find themselves on the back foot.
But West Brom weathered the early storm and made
Leicester pay for their profligacy after 30 minutes.
A well-worked corner saw Rondon burst ahead of Danny
Simpson at the near post to head home Stephane
Sessegnon's whipped cross from the left.
Leicester persevered, with Myhill producing a smart save to
keep out Leonardo Ulloa's glancing header just before half-
time, but an otherwise impressive defensive performance
meant West Brom ended the opening 45 minutes in the
ascendency.
Only a last-ditch Simpson tackle prevented Saido Berahino
from doubling West Brom's lead five minutes after the
break, but Leicester responded and restored parity just
before the hour.
A wonderful deep cross from Albrighton found Mahrez at the
far post and he steered an expert volley home from close
range.
Vardy diverted a cheeky backheel just wide, but Leicester
were not to be denied a second as Albrighton again teed up
Mahrez with a deflected cross.
The visitors extended their lead after 77 minutes when the
in-form Vardy was on hand to finish a stunning counter-
attacking breakaway by slotting home, drawing him level
with Daniel Sturridge as the only Englishmen to net in eight
Premier League games in a row.
But West Brom hit back seven minutes later when substitute
Nathan Dyer was adjudged to have fouled Callum
McManaman inside the area, allowing substitute Lambert to
open his account for the club from the spot.
Tony Pulis' men pushed for an equaliser, with McManaman
firing wide and Lambert hitting the post late on, but
Leicester survived a frantic finish to claim the win.
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