The Foxes looked set to drop points only for Leonardo Ulloa to score an 89th-minute victor at the King Power Stadium against struggling Norwich.
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Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester have 56 points from 27 matches while Spurs are on 54 and Arsenal have 51. “We believe in them”, Ranieri said.
Following their crushing stoppage time defeat at Arsenal last time out, the Foxes had, according to manager Claudio Ranieri, been “ready for the fight” but for most of the match seemed curiously becalmed as Norwich enjoyed the best openings. We can score, they can score, we can score, they can score.
This was far from the effervescent, vibrant Leicester who captured the imagination of the country and more a triumph for patience and endurance. “When I came back I was very focused on West Brom”.
“We try and win every game, no matter who we play”.
“But it was important for us to restart after the Arsenal defeat and restart well”. That is our mentality.
He said: “We lose him for the next two matches”.
Marc Albrighton went close for Leicester with a free-kick from wide on the left, but the best chance of the first half fell to Norwich’s Cameron Jerome, who headed inches wide from Robbie Brady’s corner.
The Italian added: “You can not always play well, it’s not important to play well or not, it’s important to take points”.
“We have done our job because we are safe”.
“We believed until the end”. I want to say well done to Norwich because it was a good battle.
Speaking to the BBC after the game, Ranieri said: “It was a hard match. We were well organised and then got the goals”.
“I tried to make some changes to spread out their defensive line with (Jeff) Schlupp on the left and Riyad (Mahrez) on the right and after I also put on Ulloa because I needed another goalscorer in the box”.
“It was a good choice”, said the Leicester manager with a wry smile.
At the King Power Stadium on Saturday, in a role that provided him with space to attack, Redmond looked the kind of threat that could really propel Norwich forward – providing he maintains his level and City take advantage.
Elsewhere, West Ham moved up to provisional fifth place after a 1-0 win over Sunderland in the early kickoff, while Watford was held to 0-0 at home by Bournemouth, and Stoke beat bottom club Aston Villa 2-1. “It wasn’t important whether we played well or played badly, what was important was to take a victory”.
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I asked Russell Martin after the game whether Saturday was just another example of Leicester’s miraculous campaign – and the City skipper confirmed with a noise what was written all over his face.
