BY DECLAN SHEPHERD
Substitute Leonardo Ulloa scored a late winner as Leicester City beat Norwich City 1-0 in the Premier League.
Ulloa tapped in at the back post from a Marc Albrighton cross in front of over 32,000 fans at the King Power Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The result means Leicester City move 5 points clear at the top of the table with their closest rivals not in action until Sunday.
Leicester made their first team change in 8 matches with Daniel Amartey making his debut for the suspended Danny Simpson while Alex Tettey returned to the visiting midfield.
Both sides started brightly, Cameron Jerome thwarted by Peter Schmeichel before Shinji Okazaki’s back heel flick was blocked on the line.
Norwich began the game tight and deep, keeping ten behind the ball, restricting Leicester to long range chances in the opening quarter including two over the top from Albrighton.
Unable to capitalise on their chances, the Foxes slowly allowed the Canaries into the game as they pressed higher up the pitch.
Further chances fell to Albrighton and Jerome with the Leicester winger glancing a header wide from a free kick with just John Ruddy to beat, matched moments later by Jerome from a rare Norwich corner.
Leicester started the 2nd half on top, Riyad Mahrez drawing a foul from Steven Naismith who earned the first yellow of the match, soon followed by Ryan Bennett for a rash challenge on Jamie Vardy.
Albrighton again injected some life into the game after a slow third quarter, forcing a save from Ruddy with another effort from distance before manager Claudio Ranieri brought on Andy King and Jeffrey Schlupp for Okazki and N’Golo Kante.
The Foxes final subsititution, Ulloa on for Amartey, saw the home side switch to a 3-4-3 as they looked for a late winner.
The gamble nearly back fired after Nathan Redmond’s shot flew narrowly wide with just over 5 minutes remaining but ultimately paid off.
A low cross from the right by Albrighton appeared to fall to no-one before Ulloa pounced at the back post to finish in an unguarded goal.
Mahrez looked lively throughout, constantly switching wings but was rarely a threat for Ruddy or the Canaries defence.
Vardy, looking for his 20th goal of the season, was kept quiet by the packed Norwich defence and struggled to link up with strike partners Okazaki or Mahrez for much of the game.
His best chance came for a 30 yard free kick saved low to the right by Ruddy just before the hour mark.
