We looked like a team in mental confusion,

JAMIE VARDY sparked Leicester’s Christmas party as Chelsea lost at home for the first time under Maurizio Sarri – and Claude Puel earned some much-needed goodwill.

Not for the first time this season, Foxes boss Puel came into a game with huge question marks over his future.

But he can rest easy for a few days at least after his side beat Chelsea for the first time in eight clashes. Sarri (right) had seen his men completely dominate for 45 minutes, while Puel spent most of the first half turning the air blue in frustration at his players.

Ironically, it was Vardy who copped the biggest rebuke, with the Frenchman furious with one poor touch.

It was a different matter five minutes into the second half, though, with Puel soaking up Leicester’s joy at the goal.

Puel said: “In the first half we were a bit disappointed, because we could have used the ball with more quality and composure, and we wasted some good opportunities.

“But our togetherness, our work on the pitch were fantastic.

“We came back in the second half with better quality on the ball. It was a fantastic move for the goal and I was happy for Jamie to finish and be clinical.”

Asked if the goal justified his decision to leave Vardy out of the Carabao Cup defeat by Manchester City in midweek, Puel replied: “I have nothing to justify.

“I try always to do my best to get the right balance to protect some players, get the best out of other players, and put a team on the pitch with the ability to win the game.”

His side did have a couple of lucky escapes here with Eden Hazard rattling Kasper Schmeichel’s crossbar before the break and Marcos Alonso also hitting a post late on.

But Chelsea could have few complaints about their defeat. It was their third loss of the season, but all three have come within the last month and Sarri knows there is an issue.

And so angry was he late on that he ripped off his coat and tossed it away from him. “I was hot,” he said when