Sublime Foxes Sink Spurs
With a cacophonous Filbert Way crowd behind them, City climbed to ninth in the Premier League with a performance worthy of joining a long list of vintage nights on Filbert Way.
Harry Kane narrowed the arrears for Spurs with 11 minutes remaining, but Claude Puel’s Foxes dug deep to shut the visitors from north London out and seal all three points.
On a night of landmarks, Wes Morgan delivered a captain’s display on his 250th outing in a Foxes shirt while Hamza Choudhury made his Premier League debut from the bench late on.
Puel opted for two changes from the side who secured a point at West Ham United on Friday night, with Ben Chilwell and Shinji Okazaki coming in for Christian Fuchs and Demarai Gray.
Fuchs was away following the birth of his daughter, while Okazaki returned to his duties as City’s man in the hole behind Vardy in an attacking 4-2-3-1 formation.
Speaking during his pre-match press conference on Monday afternoon, Puel stated his wish to see further progress in his new side’s all-round play.
Within minutes of the first whistle, it was clear that Leicester wanted to exhibit what they've learned under his stewardship.
Danny Rose was forced to clear it off the line after eight minutes, following Morgan’s looping header, during a frenetic, end-to-end opening. Four minutes later, though, the hosts led.
Marc Albrighton chipped it over the Spurs backline, into the path of Vardy. The England man looked like he was about to take it down, but he elected to shoot first time.
It was audacious attempt, although he was repaid for his ambition by watching it glide over Hugo Lloris and into an empty net. A narrow, but deserved, advantage was Leicester's.
City had their fair share of nervous moments, too, but Moussa Sissoko, Christian Eriksen and Kane were all denied by a mix of last-ditch defending and sterling goalkeeping from Kasper Schmeichel.
One minute into added time at the end of the first half, Algerian wizard Mahrez reached into his box of tricks to send it roaring past Lloris from distance, making the score 2-0 at a perfect time.
Kane scored what has become his annual goal against Leicester in the 79th minute, but it proved inconsequential for Puel’s men, who stood tall to make sure of the result at the very end.
Their chances were helped by late misses, both in front of gaping goals, from Eriksen and Fernando Llorente, but City had already done more than enough to warrant their win.
Key moment
"The momentum was with Leicester and that's all they need. Vardy and Mahrez were on song and, when that happens, we always have a chance." - Gerry Taggart, LCFC Radio.
"This is one of the best all-round performances we've seen from Leicester City in a long time. Even Harry Kane's seasonal goal against City couldn't spoil it!" - Nev Foulger, LCFC Radio.
Four days previously, City had lost a 1-0 advantage at West Ham in the final seconds of the first half. As a result, there was a steely determination not to suffer a repeat this time out.
Many in King Power Stadium would have been relieved to go in just a solitary goal to the good, but Mahrez had other ideas, ultimately scoring the goal which won it for the Foxes - in some style.
Who impressed?
Morgan Delighted With Victory
Foxes skipper Wes Morgan talks to LCFC TV after his side's 2-1 victory over Spurs at King Power Stadium on Tuesday night...
A mainstay of a magnificent era in the Club’s history, Morgan marked his 250th appearance for City with a performance befitting the impact he’s had over five years at King Power Stadium.
Rising to every ball and getting there first to each 50/50, the 33-year-old was a source of constant frustration for Kane, Llorente and Son-Heung Min at the back for the Foxes.
"It's been incredible, looking back at the many, many highlights is fantastic for me," he told LCFC TV at full-time. "To play 250 games for one club is a big achievement.
"We're absolutely delighted. We showed our quality at times. To get two goals before half-time was fantastic. Everyone put their neck on the line tonight."
Where does it leave us?
Leicester rise to ninth in the Premier League, four points behind Watford in eighth and seven away from the relegation zone, with a goal difference of -1, after 14 top flight matches.
Coming up…
Burnley visit King Power Stadium on Saturday (3pm kick-off) before a trip to St James’ Park to tackle Newcastle United City seven days later (5:30pm kick-off).