
Leicester strengthened their place within the Premier League’s prime 4 with victory over Fulham, whose survival hopes suffered an additional blow at Craven Cottage.
James Maddison performed a key position in each the guests’ targets, delivering a pleasant in-swinging cross for Kelechi Iheanacho to move residence earlier than teeing up James Justin to double the Foxes’ lead on the stroke of half-time.
Brendan Rodgers’ aspect had three targets disallowed – Caglar Soyuncu’s first-half header was dominated out for a push on Tosin Adarabioyo earlier than Iheanacho and Ricardo Pereira had been denied by the linesman’s flag within the second half.
Fulham had probabilities too – notably when Adarabioyo’s header was palmed over the crossbar by Kasper Schmeichel moments earlier than the guests’ second purpose.
That header, nevertheless, was the Cottagers’ solely effort on course in all the 90 minutes.
The outcome lifts Leicester two factors behind second-placed Manchester United, whereas Fulham stay seven factors adrift of security in 18th.
Maddison the important thing for Leicester
Rodgers admitted his group “weren’t ok” in Sunday’s defeat by Leeds United – a outcome that noticed them miss the possibility to maneuver two factors behind Premier League leaders Manchester Metropolis.
The Foxes had been with out injured defenders Timothy Castagne and Wesley Fofana at Craven Cottage, whereas key duo Wilfred Ndidi and Jamie Vardy are solely set to return in opposition to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.
Leicester had earned only one level from their previous 4 league fixtures with out Vardy, whereas profitable solely six of their 22 league matches with out Ndidi for the reason that Nigerian’s debut in January 2017.
Nonetheless, two excellent assists from Maddison steered the Foxes to victory in west London.
The 24-year-old’s teasing supply from the appropriate gave Iheanacho the easy activity of directing a close-range header previous Areola, whereas he confirmed nice composure to tee up Justin for the guests’ essential second purpose.
The previous Norwich Metropolis man has now been instantly concerned in 12 targets in his final 12 appearances in all competitions for the Foxes.
Youri Tielemans additionally had a superb recreation on the coronary heart of midfield, profitable possession 10 occasions and finishing extra passes than another Leicester participant.
The guests had been completely satisfied to include their opponents for almost all of the second half, as Fulham struggled to penetrate their resolute, well-drilled defence.
Solely Manchester United have collected extra factors on their travels this season than Rodgers’ aspect, who’ve now received eight of their 11 away league matches in 2020-21.
Toothless Fulham in serious trouble
Fulham got here into Wednesday’s recreation with no win since beating Leicester 2-1 at King Energy Stadium on 30 November.
The Cottagers have proved robust to beat in current weeks, however their failure to transform probabilities into targets has seen them lose floor on the groups above the drop zone.
They carved out the primary alternative of the sport after 12 minutes, however Justin produced a superb block to disclaim Aleksandar Mitrovic after a marauding run from Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa down the left.
Adarabioyo compelled Schmeichel into an excellent one-handed save late within the first half, just for Justin’s purpose moments later to depart Scott Parker’s aspect with a mountain to climb.
Parker introduced on Mario Lemina and Ivan Cavaleiro at half-time and the latter went near halving the deficit inside minutes of the restart, dragging a low shot vast of Schmeichel’s left-hand put up.
However that was the closest the hosts got here to a route again into the match, as their winless league run stretched to 11 video games.
No residence comforts for Cottagers – the stats
- Fulham have misplaced their first 4 residence video games in 2021 in all competitions – the primary time they’ve misplaced their first 4 residence video games in a calendar yr as a Soccer League aspect.
- Leicester have received 26 away factors within the Premier League this season – their second highest such whole in a Premier League marketing campaign after their 2015-16 title success (39).
- Fulham have gone 11 video games with no win within the Premier League (D7 L4) – the present longest such streak within the competitors.
- Fulham have received solely two of their 21 Premier League video games this season – earlier than this time period, 13 of the 15 earlier Premier League sides to win two video games or fewer after 21 had been relegated on the finish of the marketing campaign, though one of many sides to outlive had been Fulham in 2007-08.
- Leicester’s Kelechi Iheanacho scored his first Premier League purpose in 15 video games since netting in opposition to Crystal Palace in July 2020.
- Leicester’s James Maddison assisted two targets in a single Premier League recreation for the primary time in his profession (87th app).
‘High quality at each ends the distinction’ – what they stated
Fulham boss Scott Parker, talking to BBC Match of the Day: “The chilly exhausting truth is that we have misplaced a soccer match as we speak and we all know what we have to do – we have to win.
“High quality at each ends was the distinction, we had some good moments within the first half however we nonetheless did not trigger them many issues. Their high quality within the remaining third was evident.
“There’s nonetheless 17 video games left. I perceive what the notion will likely be, however now we have a group right here which have been in video games. We all know what we have to do and there must be a transparent give attention to that.”
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers, talking to BBC Match of the Day: “It was necessary for us to reply, that is the way you outline your group by way of setbacks. I believed we had been glorious and scored two excellent targets. We confirmed actual moments of high quality.
“I believe the group is maturing – it is exhausting bodily for gamers this season. We had one shot in opposition to us all evening which exhibits the focus. Second half we managed it and stayed calm.
“The tradition now we have created is an atmosphere the place we ask the gamers to be brave. Once you lose video games there is a vulnerability however now we have at all times taken that as one thing to replicate on. As soon as we fail in a recreation we be taught from it and get out and win the following recreation.”
What’s subsequent?
Fulham welcome West Ham to Craven Cottage of their subsequent league match on Saturday, 6 February (17:30 GMT), whereas Leicester journey to Wolves the following day (14:00).
Participant of the match
TielemansYouri Tielemans
Fulham
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Squad quantity17Participant identifyCavaleiro
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Squad quantity1Participant identifyAreola
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Squad quantity21Participant identifyReed
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Squad quantity14Participant identifyDe Cordova-Reid
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Squad quantity15Participant identifyLoftus-Cheek
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Squad quantity16Participant identifyTosin
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Squad quantity5Participant identifyAndersen
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Squad quantity34Participant identifyAina
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Squad quantity18Participant identifyLemina
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Squad quantity19Participant identifyLookman
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Squad quantity33Participant identifyRobinson
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Squad quantity2Participant identifyTete
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Squad quantity9Participant identifyMitrovic
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Squad quantity29Participant identifyZambo Anguissa
Leicester Metropolis
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Squad quantity8Participant identifyTielemans
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Squad quantity1Participant identifySchmeichel
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Squad quantity2Participant identifyJustin
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Squad quantity10Participant identifyMaddison
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Squad quantity14Participant identifyIheanacho
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Squad quantity21Participant identifyRicardo Pereira
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Squad quantity6Participant identifyEvans
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Squad quantity4Participant identifySöyüncü
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Squad quantity11Participant identifyAlbrighton
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Squad quantity20Participant identifyChoudhury
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Squad quantity18Participant identifyAmartey
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Squad quantity24Participant identifyMendy
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Squad quantity17Participant identifyAyoze Pérez
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Squad quantity15Participant identifyBarnes
Line-ups
Fulham
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Areola
- 34AinaBooked at 59mins
- 5Andersen
- 16Tosin
- 2TeteSubstituted forCavaleiroat 45′minutesBooked at 89mins
- 21ReedBooked at 24mins
- 29Zambo AnguissaSubstituted forLeminaat 45′minutes
- 33Robinson
- 15Loftus-CheekSubstituted forDe Cordova-Reidat 71′minutes
- 9Mitrovic
- 19Lookman
Substitutes
- 3Hector
- 4Odoi
- 12Rodák
- 13Ream
- 14De Cordova-Reid
- 17Cavaleiro
- 18Lemina
- 23Bryan
- 25Onomah
Leicester
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Schmeichel
- 21Ricardo Pereira
- 6Evans
- 4Söyüncü
- 2Justin
- 8Tielemans
- 20ChoudhurySubstituted forMendyat 61′minutesBooked at 72mins
- 17PérezSubstituted forAlbrightonat 61′minutes
- 10Maddison
- 15BarnesSubstituted forAmarteyat 76′minutes
- 14Iheanacho
Substitutes
- 11Albrighton
- 12Ward
- 18Amartey
- 19Ünder
- 24Mendy
- 28Fuchs
- 33Thomas
- 38Leshabela
- 46Daley-Campbell
Stay Textual content
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Match ends, Fulham 0, Leicester Metropolis 2.
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Second Half ends, Fulham 0, Leicester Metropolis 2.
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Foul by Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham).
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Daniel Amartey (Leicester Metropolis) wins a free kick within the defensive half.
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Ivan Cavaleiro (Fulham) is proven the yellow card for a nasty foul.
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Foul by Ivan Cavaleiro (Fulham).
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Youri Tielemans (Leicester Metropolis) wins a free kick within the defensive half.
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Harrison Reed (Fulham) wins a free kick within the defensive half.
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Foul by Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester Metropolis).
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Offside, Leicester Metropolis. James Maddison tries a by means of ball, however Kelechi Iheanacho is caught offside.
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Foul by Ola Aina (Fulham).
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Çaglar Söyüncü (Leicester Metropolis) wins a free kick within the defensive half.
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Try missed. Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham) header from the centre of the field misses to the left. Assisted by Harrison Reed with a cross.
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Nook, Fulham. Conceded by James Justin.
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Try blocked. Bobby De Cordova-Reid (Fulham) proper footed shot from the centre of the field is blocked. Assisted by Aleksandar Mitrovic with a by means of ball.
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Foul by Bobby De Cordova-Reid (Fulham).
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Nampalys Mendy (Leicester Metropolis) wins a free kick within the defensive half.
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Substitution, Leicester Metropolis. Daniel Amartey replaces Harvey Barnes.
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Nook, Fulham. Conceded by James Justin.
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Harrison Reed (Fulham) wins a free kick within the defensive half.