LEICESTER CITY 1

Gray (6)

BURNLEY 0

Talk of Sean Dyche’s Burnley qualifying for Europe was dealt a sobering blow at Leicester.

The Foxes have impressed under Claude Puel and their third win in his six matches in charge was achieved thanks to a goal from Demarai Gray.

The hosts made a bright start and took the lead after six minutes.

Riyad Mahrez’s inswinging cross from the left looked to be creeping in at the far post, forcing Nick Pope to dive to his right and push the ball away.

But he could only parry it into the path of the oncoming Gray, who collided with the frame of the goal as he slid in to finish from point-blank range.

Like Gray, Burnley recovered well and Chris Wood, a former Leicester player, quickly had a good chance to equalise. Phil Bardsley’s low cross was deflected into the path of Wood, but the striker’s touch was heavy and it allowed Kasper Schmeichel to smother the danger.

James Tarkowski headed wide from a corner and Johann Berg Gudmundsson worked Schmeichel again. Burnley looked menacing once more after half an hour as Robbie Brady worked a shooting opportunity 18 yards out, but Harry Maguire nicked the ball away as he pulled the trigger, resulting in a nasty-looking collision of shins.

Both players laid on the ground in some pain and Brady was carried from the field on a stretcher. The injury appeared to upset Burnley’s rhythm and Leicester assumed control.

Mahrez worked Pope with a 22-yard strike following a mazy run and Wes Morgan had an effort cleared off the line by Bardsley after Jamie Vardy had mis-hit his attempt. Burnley remained a threat and Schmeichel had to be alert to deny Steven Defour and then Gudmundsson, who was put through on goal by Jeff Hendrick’s pass.

Back at the other end, Gray came close to a second when he steered a shot goalwards which clipped the outside of a post.

There were chances at both ends in injury time. Leicester survived a heart-stopping moment when Gudmundsson’s low cross deflected straight into the arms of Schmeichel while Pope got down to his right to make a good save to deny Mahrez.