Leicester beats Cardiff in first game since owner’s death

It was poignant and emotional at Leicester's first match on Saturday since owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha died in a helicopter crash.

The tears shed by goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel summed up the mood as a huge banner, a Thai flag with "RIP Vichai" and the Leicester badge, was unfurled before the English Premier League game at Cardiff.

Somehow, though, Schmeichel and his teammates managed to put their collective grief to one side to focus on the football for 90 minutes and grind out a 1-0 victory.

There was a united feeling before the game when two big banners were pushed around the ground by both sets of fans. Floral tributes were laid on the pitch as the teams and coaching staff gathered in the center circle for a minute's silence for Vichai, one of five victims last Saturday of the crash outside the club's King Power Stadium.

Leicester then gathered in a huddle for Schmeichel's team talk and, whatever emotive words he used, they worked as Demarai Gray scored the only goal with a low finish in the 55th minute.

Gray celebrated by removing his jersey to reveal an undershirt on which was written "For Khun Vichai," and was booked by referee Lee Probert. Schmeichel ran the length of the field to join a team celebration.

The Leicester fans sang Vichai's name for the rest of a highly charged afternoon and, at the final whistle, the visiting players came together to embrace.

"We were very close to the chairman," captain Wes Morgan said. "''We know what his wishes were. He used to come down at home games, have a joke and a laugh, always say, 'Want win and three points.' We did that today.

"It has not been an easy week, we had to try and hold our emotions in today and do the best we can. We have a very emotional connection with the fans, so we stayed till the end and celebrated victory with them."

The next task for Leicester's players will be to fly out to Bangkok for Vichai's funeral.

"That was a tough game, not just on the pitch, but mentally," Schmeichel said. "There are a lot of exhausted people in there now but I am proud of this team and the club, the way everyone has handled themselves has been unbelievable.

"Coming out for the warm-up was tough, the first 10 minutes I couldn't steady myself, I was shaking a little bit. But it was nice to get a win to take to Thailand now and hopefully we did his family proud."

Liverpool midfielder James Milner's 50th English Premier League goal was not enough to secure victory as his side had to settle for 11 against fellow title chaser Arsenal at Emirates Stadium yesterday.

The teams had first-half strikes ruled out for offside and the visitors were particularly unfortunate to see Sadio Mane's effort disallowed.

The Senegal forward pounced after Roberto Firmino hit the post, and the goal was chalked off even though Mane was behind the ball when his fellow striker lobbed Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

Alexandre Lacazette also netted at the other end but teammate Shkodran Mustafi was clearly in an offside position.

Liverpool eventually took the lead on the hour when Leno pushed Mane's cross back in front of his own goal and Milner drilled in his third goal of the season.

Alex Iwobi then set up the equalizer with a clever pass to Lacazette, who curled in a precise shot to preserve Arsenal's 14match unbeaten streak in all competitions.

The draw took Liverpool one point clear in the standings before second-place Manchester City hosts Southampton today.

Arsenal is four points off the pace.

Newcastle finally tasted victory 11 games into the English Premier League after beating Watford 1-0 at St James' Park.

Ayoze Perez converted fellow substitute Ki Sung-yueng's free kick in the 65th minute.

Watford was left to wonder how it ended up empty-handed after Gerard Deulofeu and substitute Stefan Okaka spurned gilt-edged opportunities, while Roberto Pereyra rattled the crossbar.

The visitors should have been ahead after 15 minutes when defender Adrian Mariappa shot wide. Deulofeu then broke clear only to be denied by a fine intervention by DeAndre Yedlin.

Perez then put Newcastle in front and the home team could have effectively ended the match as a contest when Salomon Rondon headed a Kenedy cross wide.

There was still time, though, for Okaka and Andre Gray to go close to snatching an equaliser for Watford.