Leicester City 1-3 Leeds United
by Bella Katz 
at Filbert Way

LEICESTER failed to extend their 10-game unbeaten streak on Sunday when they dropped points at home to Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds.

The loss meant that they missed the chance to go second, and with Liverpool’s win against West Ham they fell to fourth place in the Premier League table.

Brendan Rodgers acknowledged the end of the Foxes’ unbeaten run but didn’t look too dispirited.

“I think we’ve been on a fantastic run, it was always going to come to an end at some point. They deserved to win” he said.

The side have left a good trail of results behind them in recent times, despite missing key players Jamie Vardy and Wilfred Ndidi.

The Foxes fought particularly well in the first half. Harvey Barnes took an early lead when he bounded towards goal from the half-way line and, after a touch by James Maddison into the box, capitalised with a thunderous strike that clapped the back of the net.

That confident piece of play gave the sense that Leicester had the match under control. But a strong reaction at the other end by Stuart Dallas just two minutes later was a wake-up call for the hosts.

Maddison injected pace and creativity into Leicester’s game, but it was not enough to cover up the Vardy-shaped hole in their attacking force.

The scoreline was an even 1-1 at half-time despite plenty of chances for both sides, and the second half was open for the taking. 

The Whites managed to tip the scales in their favour in the 70th minute, when Patrick Bamford struck a left-footer which floated past Kasper Schmeichel into the right-hand side of the goal.

It was his first in five matches, and he also managed to provide his teammates with two assists.

“It was a beautiful goal,” said Bielsa. “It was in a part of the goal it is difficult to find, considering the violence of the shot.”

And in the 84th minute, man-of-the-match Bamford made a break for goal on the counter and squared it to Jack Harrison, who struck the ball confidently into the back of the net to conclude a strong performance.

As the title race continues to heat up, the Foxes will seek to recover points against Fulham and Wolves this week.