By Luke Williamson
Harvey Barnes scored the only goal of the game as a lacklustre Leicester City beat Leeds United 1-0 at the King Power Stadium.
The winger fired home in the 66th minute after a sublime move, leaving the visitors to rue multiple missed chances throughout the game.
The opening 45 minutes was played at a frenetic pace with both sides throwing bodies forward.
Leeds looked to hurt the hosts on the counter-attack with their typical pace and directness, but looked assured in defence – something the Whites have struggled to do in previous months.
The visitors had many of the early chances with Daniel James breaking at pace before feeding Jack Harrison, who fired at the legs of Kasper Schmeichel.
Rodrigo then fired a couple of good chances of the top of the Leicester goal as Leeds looked the more likely to score before the break
The hosts weren’t without their chances though, as Barnes tested the handling of Illan Meslier before Wilfred Ndidi saw a header saved on the stroke of half time.
United came out flying after the break and had a flurry of chances in the first 15 minutes of the second period.
Rodrigo’s near post header was well saved by Schmeichel before the Denmark number one made a great reaction save from James from close range.
Leicester made two changes and altered formation, bringing Ademola Lookman and Kelechi Iheanacho on, and the impact was instant as they took the lead five minutes later.
The winger drove at the Leeds defence, played a one-two with Iheanacho before placing a low curling effort through the gloves of Meslier.
The hosts took control from then onwards, controlling the game without really creating another chance.
Chances were at a premium as Leicester held their shape well and restricted the visitors to hopeful crosses into the box.
Leeds did push for an equaliser deep into stoppage time but their end product let them down in the final third.
Their cause wasn’t helped by Tyler Roberts struggling to move after picking up a knock almost immediately after coming on as a substitute – Marsch confirming after the game the striker picked up a hamstring strain.
Brendan Rodgers’ men held on to claim a crucial three points to take them up to tenth in the Premier League table with Leeds in 16th before the 3pm games got underway.
The teams
Leicester City
Schmeichel; Choudhury (Lookman, 61), Söyüncü, Amartey, Thomas; Albrighton, Dewsbury-Hall, Tielemans, Ndidi (Mendy, 76), Barnes; Vardy (Iheanacho, 61).
Leeds United
Meslier; Dallas, Ayling, Struijk, Firpo; Koch, Klich (Forshaw, 69) ; Raphinha, James, Rodrigo(Gelhardt, 64), Harrison (Roberts, 75).
Man of the Match: Kasper Schmeichel.
