SPURS CLING ON IN RACE

over Leicester with goals from Davinson Sanchez, Christian Eriksen and Heung-min Son.

But striker Vardy had come on as a substitute to take a penalty which would have put the Foxes level – only to see his effort saved by Hugo Lloris.

Spurs boss Pochettino said: “Sometimes you win games not playing at your best. I am so happy. One more time to congratulate the players. Again their effort was fantastic. I am so proud of that.”

Claude Puel (above), who started with

Vardy on the bench a week after the striker appeared to call him a “k***head” following the defeat to Manchester United, defended the decision to let him take it.

The Foxes boss said: “I gave him the penalty opportunity. Perhaps it was a good thing, not a good thing. We don’t know.”