/Leicester City Go Seven Points Clear at the Top

Leicester City Go Seven Points Clear at the Top

Leicester City moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League after beating Southampton by 1-0 on Sunday. The Foxes skipper Wes Morgan was the man who connected with Christian Fuchs’ first-half cross to score his first goal of the season. Southampton came closest when Sadio Mane rounded Kasper Schmeichel, but his goalbound shot was superbly blocked by Danny Simpson. Leicester City will win the title if they win four of their remaining six games.

Claudio Ranieri’s side have now won five of their last six matches by a 1-0 scoreline, and after main title rivals Tottenham slipped up with a draw at Liverpool on Saturday, the most unlikely title triumph in Premier League history must surely be considered a probability now. Southampton remain seventh after a first defeat in four matches. Only two of the Foxes’ first 26 league games were 1-0 wins, but at a crucial stage of the season, they have found the knack of grinding out narrow victories based on defensive solidity and clinical finishing.

Leicester City Go Seven Points Clear at the Top1

They have also been able to rely on finding vital goals from unlikely sources – with Danny Drinkwater, Andy King and Leonardo Ulloa all having chipped in in recent weeks – and this time it was Morgan who found the net. The defender outmuscled Jordy Clasie from a cross by Fuchs – the Austrian’s fourth assist of the season. Thereafter the hosts had to weather persistent Southampton pressure, as their possession dropped from 52.5% in the first half to 40% after the interval.

But once again their back four proved impregnable, with Morgan and Robert Huth making 20 clearances between them. Claudio Ranieri says the victory over the Saints was good reply to Premier League title pressure. He says his table-topping Leicester City team are enjoying a “magical season” and can handle the pressure of the title run-in. “I am very calm,” said Ranieri. “We believe in what we are doing.” He said “everybody” was waiting to see how they would react to Tottenham’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool, adding: “We gave a very good answer.”

Curated from Leicester City 1-0 Southampton – BBC Sport