LEICESTER maintained their push for a first Premier League title with a gritty 1-0 win at Tottenham tonight.
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| Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane (right) both had chances to score tonight |
Robert Huth’s late headed goal won it for the Foxes, who welcomed back Jamie Vardy from injury on a greasy night in north London.
Here, News News Blog Sport assesses the game…
1) Two games in four days doesn’t help
Tottenham and Leicester played out an amicable 2-2 draw in the FA Cup on Sunday. There was plenty of goalmouth action and a late Harry Kane penalty just added to the drama. But the game certainly did’t help tonight’s outing at White Hart Lane.
Although between them managers Mauricio Pochettino and Claudio Ranieri made 16 changes to their starting XIs, this game was very close to being a forgettable stalemate.
The two systems largely cancelled each other out as both teams relied on sporadic chances, helped by a greasy surface, to find a winner.
In the end, a set-piece rightly turned what was otherwise a well intentioned game that lacked clinical quality.
2) Kyle Walker still has a mistake in him
Twice tonight Kyle Walker almost cost his side a goal. In the first half he sold Hugo Lloris short during a routine throw-in that let Jamie Vardy through to squad to Shinji Okazaki, who blazed wide.
After the break he mistimed a routine backless from a long ball which against allowed Jamie Vardy through. Thankfully for Spurs, Lloris was on hand to deny Leicester’s striker.
3) Leicester don’t need to rely on Vardy
Vardy was subbed off with 20 minutes remaining after undergoing groin surgery earlier this month. He missed the Foxes’ draw on Sunday and was off the field when Huth scored the winner tonight.
Granted, Vardy is in the form of his life and Leicester wouldn’t be where they are now were it not for his prowess in front of goal.
However, tonight proved that Ranieri has plenty more men at his disposal in the push for the title. Okazaki in particular looks a seasoned Premier League player just over six months into his Leicester career.
Leonardo Ulloa replaced Vardy and did exactly what was required of him, while Danny Drinkwater regularly evaded his opposite numbers in midfield to pose a threat on Lloris’ goal.
4) It’s time for Alli to prove his worth
Dele Alli has been a breath of fresh air at White Hart Lane this season. The £5million signing from MK Dons adds a lively dynamic to Spurs’ midfield that Christian Eriksen just doesn’t quite provide.
The England international has scored six goals in 30 appearances this term - and now it’s time for him to move into the next gear.
Alli rightly signed a new contract at Spurs less than a year after agreeing his original £10,000-a-week deal when signing from MK Dons.
He may be 19 but he’s not raw to this game anymore. Fans will demand consistency now his pay reflects his potential and the midfielder must not lose sight of that.
Alli sparked into life twice tonight and on both occasions tested Kasper Schmeichel in the Leicester goal. He’s on course to make Roy Hodgson’s England cut for Euro 2016 and deservedly so.
5) They all hate Arsenal… kind of
While Spurs and Leicester battled it out in soggy London, Arsenal were up at Liverpool trying their hardest to get on MOTD2’s biggest bloopers of the season reel.
Liverpool took a 1-0 lead at Anfield and the score was relayed back to north London on the big screen. The whole stadium, of course, cheered with delight - yet the biggest roar came from the Leicester section.
The Foxes are truly in a title challenge this season and any dropped points from Arsenal or Manchester City are warmly received.
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