Leicester City 1-0 Burnley: The evolution is starting to take shape
By James Lassey
An early Demarai Gray goal ensured Leicester the points against a Burnley side who had only lost once away before Saturday’s visit to the King Power stadium.
The win leaves Claude Puel’s side with one loss in their last ten and puts them ninth five points behind today’s counterparts Burnley in seventh.
Riyad Mahrez changed his hair colour as well as his attitude with another top class performance. His dazzling display will only act as another reason to why he is Leicester’s main man.
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The decision to include Gray over striker Shinji Okazaki in the starting eleven before the game bought more questions than answers for manager Puel.
Many believed the Japan international played well against Tottenham last time out and had warranted his place within the team.
However the Frenchman’s faith in the youngster evidently paid off. Within minutes of the game starting, the 21-year-old courageously threw himself to connect to Mahrez’s cross to open the scoring.
Burnley looked for a reply, former City player Chris Wood almost pounced on Kasper Schmeichel’s mistake but for the striker putting his finish wide.
The visitor’s continued to press and looked intent on playing the game in the air. Two Burnley corners in the first-half nearly levelled the scores, James Tarkowski and Ben Mee both put free headers over the bar.
Although lone Foxes striker Jamie Vardy had a quiet game, the three behind him offered more than enough going forward.
Marc Albrighton maintained his tenacity and work rate, Gray hit the post in the second-half and caused the Burnley defence problems all afternoon and Mahrez, well he looked his old self.
Despite the win, it was not all plain sailing for City, Burnley’s Gudmondsson broke clear and without good pressure from Wes Morgan and poor decision-making by the midfielder, Leicester’s lead may have vanished.
The Icelandic only had Morgan to beat but instead opted to strike from 20 yards out leading to Schmeichel sticking out a right foot to save.
For all of the Clarets best efforts, Leicester deserved the win and Puel looks to have finally dealt with their defensive insecurities.
Having lost leads against Stoke and West Ham previously, he has now seen his team finish victorious over both Tottenham and Burnley, despite gaining the initiative early on.
Two wins in one week for Leicester gives perfect reading and they now head to Newcastle in a hope to make it three wins on the bounce for the first time this season.
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