Foxes claim fitting win for the man they called ‘Boss’

CArdiff CiTy 0 leiCeSTer CiTy 1 Gray (55)

Leicester honoured the memory of owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha with a win at Cardiff.

Manager Claude Puel praised Leicester’s self-control after their “tough week” following the death of owner Srivaddhanaprabha.

Leicester returned to action for the first time since their owner and four others were killed in a helicopter crash outside the King Power Stadium last weekend.

Demarai Gray struck an 55th-minute winner on an incredibly emotional afternoon for everyone connected with the Premier League club.

“It was tough all week,” said Leicester manager Puel.

“We went step by step, we came back for training and worked together. All the players were devastated on Monday, but we got back training and we had to prepare for the game.

“We had to keep our self-control; it would not have been possible to succeed if we played this game on emotion.

“It was important to find the balance between emotion, selfcontrol and desire. I am happy we managed to do this and it was great to experience this result with the fans at the end, because it was all the family together to honour our chairman.”

Gray, under disciplinary protocol, was booked by referee Lee Probert for removing his shirt after scoring the game’s only goal.

The forward paid tribute to Srivaddhanaprabha with the words “For Khun Vichai” written on the top he was wearing underneath.

But Puel said he accepted the card as “we played like professionals and it was important for the referee to be professional, too”.

Leicester’s players and management staff were beginning the long journey to Thailand last night to attend Srivaddhanaprabha’s funeral in Bangkok.

“We will come back in the middle of the week and then we have to prepare for the Burnley game in front of our fans,” Puel said.

“It will be tough, but we made our first step, and we have to manage the next week in the right way.

“But I think it is fantastic to finish this situation with a win.”

Cardiff dropped into the relegation zone as Newcastle climbed above them after recording their first win of the season.

Bluebirds boss Neil Warnock said some of his players had also been affected by the Leicester tragedy as “training had not been the same”.

“It’s been a strange week, surreal really, and I’m glad it’s out of the way if I’m honest,” Warnock said.

“I thought the fans were amazing in the circumstances, the respect they showed and the way they were together. It was quite emotional out there,” he added.