POPE’S PUTTING THE HEAT ON TOM

NICK POPE made a big save that preserved Burnley’s control of this game just before half-time. They could ill afford to concede, such was Leicester’s dominance, and their goalkeeper stood tall as Riyad Mahrez charged forward, only to head into his legs. A marvellous stop, underlining his credentials again, but watching England boss Gareth Southgate would have been scribbling about what had happened just before. Leicester were up, breaking. And while Demarai Gray’s centre lacked whip or pace, it required dealing with in a corridor of uncertainty, 12 yards from goal. While Burnley seemed on the brink of imploding their goalkeeper made the ball his. This is why, as sources put it politely, Tom Heaton is walking around the training ground like a bear with a sore head. He felt the No 1 jersey was his on return from a shoulder injury that has kept him out of most of Burnley’s finest season for 44 years. Heaton, 32 yesterday, feels he has earned that right. With three England caps, he was the wildcard pick for the World Cup. But Pope, 25, has been exceptional for the Clarets, undroppable as they edge closer to Europa League qualification. ‘I learnt a lot from Tom last year,’ Pope said. ‘Six months ago I couldn’t have imagined it would have gone as well as it has. Not being No 1 is a tough place to be.’ Boss Sean Dyche will now have to decide whether he keeps Pope and Heaton next season Kevin Long, who scored the second here in the ninth minute, after Chris Wood had opened the scoring three minutes earlier, said: ‘It’s reassuring to have someone that calm behind you making saves. ’ Jamie Vardy’s 72nd-minute goal proved in vain for Leicester. BURNLEY (4-4-2): POPE 8; Lowton 7, Long 7, Tarkowski 7, Ward 6.5; Gudmundsson 6.5, Westwood 6.5, Cork 7, Lennon 7; Barnes 7 (Vokes 85min), Wood 7 (Hendrick 75, 6). Subs not used: Heaton, Taylor, Marney, Wells, Bardsley. Scorers: Wood 6, Long 9. Booked: Lennon, Barnes. Manager: Sean Dyche 7. LEICESTER CITY (4-2-3-1): Schmeichel 6 (Hamer 86); Simpson 6.5, Morgan 5, Maguire 6, Chilwell 7; Silva 6, Choudhury 6.5; Mahrez 6.5, Okazaki 5 (Iheanacho 46, 6), Gray 6.5 (Diabate 64, 7); Vardy 6.5. Subs not used: Albrighton, Dragovic, Fuchs, Barnes. Scorer: Vardy 72. Booked: Iheanacho. Manager: Claude Puel 6. Referee: Martin Atkinson 6. Attendance: 21,727.