City 3 Palace 1
Report by Chris Griffin
This 3-1 win was a convincing Leicester performance, confirming the team’s ability to bring its Champions League form to the Premier League. Extending the side’s unbeaten home run to 20 league games, Leicester demonstrated clinical finishing and robust defending against a Palace side that maintained a threatening go-forward game throughout.
Ranieri’s selection revealed his commitment to rotation with Vardy, Amartey and Albrighton occupying the bench and Musa, Okazaki and King starting. Each played his full part with Musa and Okazaki scoring and King playing one of his best games, especially in covering and tidying up. Fuchs slotted City’s third with a cracker of a shot. Cabaye scored a late and neat consolation for Palace, much to Schmeichel’s evident and understandable frustration.
Leicester could have taken a first minute lead when Mandade, under pressure from Slimani, presented Okazaki with an open goal, but his pulled effort sailed wide. Palace also pressed with a Cabaye shot causing Schmeichel to scramble along his line. Benteke was showing real line-leading qualities, turning and leaving Huth stranded on the half way line and slipping in Zaha whose fierce shot was blocked by Simpson. Then a superb Benteke header beat Schmeichel’s dive but rebounded off the bar. Another Palace attack saw Cabaye pull back a pass from the by- line but no one was on hand to take advantage.
Leicester weathered the early pressure and finished the half the stronger. Good work from Okazaki and Mahrez ended with Slimani heading over the bar. A brilliant Mahrez run saw a sharp pull back but it missed the advancing Slimani. Then Slimani headed wide from a Fuchs corner. Next Mahrez cut inside only to see his shot rebound to the safety of a goal kick off the head of Okazaki. Leicester were flying and a succession of quick, one touch passes saw Drinkwater burst into the Palace box but overran the ball.
Leicester’s opener came in the 42nd minute. Good work and pressing from Slimani and Okazaki worked the ball to Musa whose fierce drive from outside the penalty area gave Mandade no chance.
Leicester continued on the front foot after the break. Following a free kick Mahrez crossed and Slimani’s strong header flashed past the post. Palace responded with Tomkins heading wide from a corner. Then another City attack, with Musa prominent, led to Huth having a chance from a corner but his header lacked power.
In the 63rd minute Drinkwater and Musa combined. Referee Oliver played a good advantage following a foul on Musa. Drinkwater’s run and cross was cleared but only to the following-up Okazaki. His well struck low drive found the back of the net.
Despite this setback Palace kept coming forward. Zaha was a constant threat and Schmeichel had to parry a fierce shot for a corner. Schmeichel then saved from Cabaye following more good work from Zaha. Huth cleared another attack. Ranieri brought on Vardy for the very hard working Slimani who left to a standing ovation. Vardy was soon in the game forcing errors in the Palace defence but the ensuing Mahrez cross was cleared.
After a spell of Palace pressure Leicester countered and increased their lead. A corner was cleared to Fuchs on the edge of the area. His thunderbolt left foot volley gave Mandade no chance.
Still Palace persevered and Schmeichel had to look lively to save well from Benteke. Seconds later Benteke was through with a one-on-one but Schmeichel saved superbly. Eventually the defence gave way. A good run from Zaha saw him beat Fuchs and his cross was met sweetly by Cabaye, arriving late into the penalty area, with little that Schmeichel could have done.
Palace maintained the pressure but did not create any clear-cut chances. Meanwhile Leicester put Mahrez through but he shot wide. Just before the final whistle Mahrez missed a great opportunity to make it four, shooting straight at Mandade from close range.
This was more like the Leicester of last season. The back four worked really well as a unit, backing each other up – riding their luck sometimes but that’s football. And when called upon Schmeichel was excellent.
The pace of Leicester’s attack was a constant thorn in Palace’s side. Musa, Okazaki, Slimani and Mahrez were dynamic and combined well. Slimani had an excellent game as a target man and worked very hard. But it has to be said that so much of what Leicester did well emerged from the constant prompting of Drinkwater: a quality player in defence and attack.
Ranieri was encouraged: "I feel good. For the first 20 minutes I felt not so good but after that we started to play our pressing, fast football against a very good team. That was our best performance so far this season. It was the shape and model of last season and we concentrated on doing our job. We knew our weaknesses but also strengths.”
Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew rued the early chance that came off the bar but added: "They cranked it up for the last 20 minutes of the first half and we struggled to hold on to them. The second half we had loads of chances but failed to capitalise. We were OK but their pace and power were too much for us at the end. They are champions for a reason."
This was a good Leicester performance. Hopefully the team can bring this form and mentality to their away games.
Leicester City: Schmeichel; Simpson; Morgan; Huth; Fuchs; Mahrez; Drinkwater; King; (sub Amartey 87’) ; Musa (sub Gray 81’); Okazaki; Slimani (sub Vardy 75’) Other subs: Albrighton; Schlupp; Zieler; Ulloa.
Crystal Palace: Mandada; Ward; Tomkins; Delaney; Kelly 9sub Fryers 77’); Mc Arthur; Ledley (sub Lee Chung-Yong 72’); Townsend (sub Campbell 72’); Cabaye; Zaha; Benteke. Other subs: Flamini; Hennessey; Wickham; Sako.
Referee: Michael Oliver Attendance: 31969
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation