Power Stadium on Saturday, with Jamie Vardy scoring
again to join an illustrious list.
Jamie Vardy became only the fifth Englishman to score in seven
successive Premier League matches after he netted the winner
in Leicester City's 1-0 defeat of Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Thanks to his well-worked second-half effort, Vardy joins Alan
Shearer, Ian Wright, Mark Stein and Daniel Sturridge in scoring
in seven consecutive top-flight outings and it proved to be
enough for Leicester, who also claimed their first clean sheet of
the season.
Leicester were significantly more lively than their visitors during
the first 25 minutes and went agonisingly close early on, as
Marc Albrighton struck the post and then saw Riyad Mahrez –
in for Shinji Okazaki as their only change – scuff the rebound
wide.
Both teams contributed to a very open contest, though that lent
little to the amount of chances that were crafted for the
remainder of the first period
It came as little surprise to see the breakthrough come as the
result of an error, with Brede Hangeland punished for a wayward
pass as Premier League top-scorer Vardy netted for the 10th
time this season just before the hour mark.
Palace upped the ante after falling behind and put Leicester
under significant pressure for the final 15 minutes, but the hosts
held on to get their first clean sheet, a feat Claudio Ranieri
previously said he would reward with pizza.
Palace manager Alan Pardew had promised spectators a goal-
laden encounter at the King Power Stadium and Leicester
looked intent on proving his point right from the start, almost
opening the scoring in the seventh minute.
Albrighton darted in from the right, gliding past two defenders in
the process and struck the post from 25 yards, with Mahrez
then slicing wide from the rebound.
Leicester continued to look the brighter going forward and
Danny Drinkwater tested Wayne Hennessey 11 minutes later,
but his fierce 25-yard drive was struck straight at the
goalkeeper.
Despite the openness of proceedings, with Albrighton
particularly threatening down the right for Leicester, chances
dried up at either end until Yohan Cabaye was presented with an
opportunity in the 38th minute.
Nevertheless, the France international's powerful drive from 30
yards was easy for Kasper Schmeichel to collect.
With the in-form Vardy leading the line for Leicester, the home
side were always likely to get a presentable opening and the
England international broke the deadlock in the 59th minute.
Mahrez intercepted Hangeland's dreadful pass in the Palace
half and slipped a ball through to Vardy, who coolly knocked it
over the onrushing Hennessey and then smashed in from close
range.
Leicester looked rattled by Palace's increased intensity after
Vardy's goal and Bakary Sako forced Schmeichel into a diving
save with 20 minutes to go.
Palace's probing left Leicester hanging on and a crucial Robert
Huth header after Schmeichel had been beaten denied Scott
Dann an 82nd-minute equaliser, a few moments before Wilfried
Zaha's desperate attempt to win a penalty resulted in a booking
as the hosts successfully clung on.
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