THE SPECIAL ONE-NILS!
Title dream gives way to expectation as Leicester win by a single goal again
The unbelievers will see only another win by the narrowest of margins. One-nil, for the fourth game in succession. Frankly, who cares? Seven points. That is what counts. Leicester are seven points clear at the top of the Premier League, in April. Think about that for a while. We have never seen anything quite like this.
Norwich were first on April 3, back in 1993. ‘The most surprising arrival at the top of the table since Banquo’s ghost,’ some wit at The Sunday Times had called it.
But that was different. Norwich were a point ahead and Aston Villa and Manchester United below them had games in hand. Norwich lost 3-1 to Manchester United on April 5 and dropped to third place. They lost their next game 5-1 at Tottenham and United pulled away.
Leicester could lose their next two games this season and secondplaced Tottenham still could not catch them. That is the strength of this lead. Indeed, by the time Spurs next play, against United on Sunday, they could trail Leicester by 10 points if Claudio Ranieri’s team win at Sunderland. Not long ago, Sir Alex Ferguson predicted Leicester would have the title won by the time they visited Old Trafford on May 1. he sounded crackers. Now he appears wise. Without doubt, it’s on. Nobody is going about their business as efficiently as Leicester right now.
This was tense, as matches always are when there is a title to be won, but Leicester are becoming increasingly adept at the art of scoring and hanging on, just as Chelsea were at this stage last year.
Yesterday’s unlikely matchwinner was captain Wes Morgan — his first goal of the season — but it was the usual team effort, the rest picking up the slack for a tiredlooking Riyad Mahrez, so often the difference this season.
One of the enduring memories of this campaign are those moments when Jamie Vardy chases a seeming lost cause, and retrieves it, and there were enough of them yesterday to suggest this is a team still full of beans, a group of players who are refusing to be cowed or drained by the pressure.
Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel seemed a little hasty in his choices but, against that, pulled off a brilliant save from Jose Fonte when the score was goalless.
every game from here to journey’s end is the biggest in the history of Leicester City, yet this felt like a particularly significant milestone. For the first time, it was possible to note a degree of expectancy inside the King Power Stadium. They were no longer just happy to be here. They had come to see the champions, they were confident, cocky even. Not just the opportunists selling ‘Leicester City Champions 2016’ scarves outside, or the fate-tempting fools buying them.
It was in the chants of, ‘We’re going to win the league’ — lustier, more certain then before, emboldened no doubt by Tottenham’s draw at Liverpool — and the cries of ‘Are you watching Nottingham?’
They know by now that talk of Leicester pulling off the greatest title win in history is beginning to irk their neighbours in the east Midlands, who feel that accolade should forever remain with Brian Clough and Nottingham Forest. This was the day that Leicester stopped being humble and truly started to believe in miracles.
And why not? Unlike just about every team in the chasing pack, Leicester are playing like champions, all single-goal wins and resilience down the home straight.
Tottenham played well in the second half at Liverpool on Saturday, but they didn’t quite get the job done. Leicester did. They started strongly, were pegged back, scored just as Southampton were beginning to fancy their chances, and held fast. They could have added a couple more in the second half, but one was enough. For all his geniality, Ranieri is an Italian coach. From the start of this season, he has stressed the important of a zero in the scoreline.
Leicester know what they are about and, certainly, there was no sign of fear here in the opening 20 minutes, when they pretty much set up camp in Southampton’s half without quite doing enough to test goalkeeper Fraser Forster.
Southampton’s three at the back made it difficult for Leicester to get in behind, but they are coming to expect that now.
Throughout the atmosphere remained buoyant, as if the locals felt it only a matter of time before Leicester scored. Football isn’t as predictable as that, fortunately. So as the half- hour approached, Southampton grew in confidence and began forcing chances. A header from Graziano Pelle flew just over the bar before a pivotal moment on 35 minutes.
Southampton counter-attacked and suddenly Sadio Mane was away, outstripping Danny Simpson with only Schmeichel to beat.
he rounded him confidently, but Simpson had recovered and Mane’s shot struck him on its way to an otherwise unguarded goal.
Southampton appealed for handball and, indeed, it did strike Simpson’s arm — but as part of his running stride, not in an attempt to block. had it not, it would have hit his body and been stopped anyway. happily, common sense prevailed. Referee Michael Oliver waved away the protests, although Southampton manager Ronald Koeman was still carping after the final whistle.
Still, Southampton did not relent. Fonte hit a cracking shot from 30 yards that Schmeichel tipped over, while Jordy Clasie tried one from 20 yards soon after with less accuracy.
And then, just as Southampton were enjoying their best spell, Leicester scored. It was a good gambler’s goal — but few would have guessed the identity of the gambler.
Morgan had not scored since May 2 last season, in a 3-0 win over Newcastle, but if this turns out to be his only goal in this campaign,
its value will remain immense. Leicester earned a free-kick in Southampton’s half, Morgan went up for it, and stayed up when the move broke down.
Leicester recycled the ball, with Christian Fuchs launching a cross from deep into Southampton’s area. Morgan found himself up against the lightweight Clasie for the header. It was no contest. The ball buried in the bottom corner. Forster did not have time to so much as stretch out a hand.
The stadium, noisy already, went bananas. In the directors’ box, owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha simply offered an understated thumbs-up. Maybe he had indulged too eagerly in the free doughnuts and beer he had donated to the fans, to celebrate his birthday. Maybe, like them, he had simply come to expect it.
In the 60th minute, Fonte blocked a Mahrez cross and the ball looped up and almost over Forster’s head, a flick of the hand sending it over the bar. Soon after, Danny Drinkwater played Vardy in, and his pulled-back cross found Simpson at the far post. He should have scored, but hit the ball straight at Forster instead. It didn’t matter. Leicester had done enough.
This time last year Leicester were seven points from safety, now they are seven points clear. There are jangling nerves at either end of the table, but as that gap increases and the weeks tick away, slowly they will turn to peals of celebration.