The Sports Lowdown For All Your News and OpinionsLeicester City climbed back to the top of the table after a comfortable home victory over Stoke City.
Danny Drinkwater, Jamie Vardy and Leonardo Ulloa were on target for the Foxes in an excellent team performance that earned a 3-0 win against the Potters.
It took nearly the full duration of the first half for the deadlock to be broken; it was a fairly even encounter until Drinkwater’s effort ensured Leicester would go into the break a goal ahead.
The ball fell at his feet just outside the area and a well-struck shot flew into the net with the help of a small deflection; this was Leicester’s first goal from outside the box this season and Drinkwater’s first Premier League goal.
As Stoke were forced to attack the Foxes began to control the match and the second breakthrough came midway through the second period.
Vardy’s short goal drought ended when he was played in on goal before rounding goalkeeper Jack Butland and slotting the ball into an empty net. It was a goal reminiscent of those Vardy scored in the Championship, a very composed finish.
Stoke lost captain Ryan Shawcross to an early injury which left their defence slightly unsettled.
The visitors offered very little in front of the Leicester goal but this reserved performance may be due to Tuesday’s League Cup semi-final against Liverpool being in the back of their minds. Joselu had their best chance but his header was saved well by Kasper Schmeichel.
It was a complete performance for Leicester as they found the net once again and a rock-solid defensive display earned a fourth clean sheet in five league matches.
The game was rounded off perfectly for Claudio Ranieri’s side in the latter stages. An audacious nutmeg from Riyad Mahrez left Phillip Wollscheid in a daze and the Algerian picked out Leonardo Ulloa who tapped in the third.
Leicester can now focus solely on the league after their FA Cup exit and with Arsenal facing Chelsea on Sunday; the Foxes will be hoping to stay clear at the top of the Premier League table for at least another week.
