Puel: Schmeichel Save Was Turning Point

- Leicester City beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 at the AMEX Stadium
- Vicente Iborra and Jamie Vardy score late goals to give City all three points
- Wilfred Ndidi was sent off for a second booking and Kasper Schmeichel saved a Glenn Murray penalty with the score at 0-0
- Manager Claude Puel felt Schmeichel’s penalty save was the key moment in the match

After surviving plenty of first half pressure, the Foxes came out improved in the second period but Brighton were awarded a penalty with just over 10 minutes remaining.

In-form Brighton striker Glenn Murray stepped up to the spot but Schmeichel was equal to it with a fine save. 

That stop sparked new life into the Foxes, who edged ahead when Ben Chilwell picked out Vicente Iborra for a fine header inside the box, sending the traveling support wild with celebration. 

Wilfred Ndidi was dismissed for a second booking in the closing stages – meaning he will miss the Newcastle and Burnley games.

But Jamie Vardy sealed the win with the last kick of the game as he got on the end of Demarai Gray’s pass. 

Afterwards, City boss Puel was delighted but quick to acknowledge that Brighton could certainly have walked away with something to show for their efforts on another day. 

“First of all I’d like to congratulate Chris Hughton and his team because they played very well and perhaps at the end they deserved another result,” he said.

“They played very well in the first half and for us it was the opposite. It was not enough aggression in our play and not enough quality. 

“It was a good score for us to be 0-0 at half time. It was important to come back with ambition after half time and it was better with good balance.

"I think the save from Kasper Schmeichel was the turning point of the game because it gave us a good boost, but it was the opposite for the opponent. 

“It was a difficult situation for them to accept and then we scored a fantastic goal. With the sending off, we had to resist.

"I wasn’t happy with the first half but I was happy with the direction we went in the second half, and also the three points. These three points are crucial going into the next games.” 

On Schmeichel’s contribution, the manager added: “He is a fantastic goalkeeper and he helped us to a fantastic result. It’s a good reward for Kasper.

"He stayed concentrated to make the save and allowed his team-mates to stay in the game.”