Leicester reboots surprise title charge by beating Tottenham 1-0

Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy leaps over the tackle of Tottenham Hotspur’s Jan Vertonghen during their English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City at the White Hart Lane stadium in London W…

Leicester’s resilience paid dividends in the 83rd minute, though, as Robert Huth’s powerful header from Christian Fuchs’ corner sealed all three points and saw Ranieri’s side move level with Arsenal – which is top on goal difference.

The teams drew 2-2 in the FA Cup on Sunday and Spurs are fourth, four points behind second-placed Leicester as they both chase a Champions League spot in the Premier League.

Leicester’s 1-0 victory moved them level on points with leaders Arsenal at the summit of the division, as they ended their run of three games without a goal or a win.

As has been the case so often this season, though, Leicester grew into the game and Shinji Okazaki shot wide on the turn after some sloppy Tottenham defending. “I just said to him [Schmeichel] that without him we wouldn’t be in that position. When we get positive results, I try to explain that we are very young and need to learn”.

“Leicester play their way, but they deserve full credit for the way that they believe on the pitch”.

“I am very disappointed because we deserved more in the end”.

“We need to be stronger”.

“We created more than them but lost”.

After naming a much-changed team for the cup tie, the host reverted to type with seven changes and dominated the opening exchanges with Dele Alli – who penned a new contract with Spurs until 2021 midweek – curling a low 25-yard effort wide of the right-hand post.

Match-winner Huth says the squad are still struggling to comprehend its brilliant campaign, and paid tribute to Schmeichel’s performance in the Leicester goal.

“We must stay with our feet on the ground”. “It is a crazy, crazy, crazy league this year”.

“Vardy and (Riyad) Mahrez are very important for us and if we can score without Mahrez and Vardy then that’s good”, he said.

When asked how he responds to questions about winning the league, the Italian replied: “I laugh!”

Yet those may have to be revised after they went to Tottenham, who have their own title hopes, and clinched a superb win after Huth scored a bullet header from a corner.