- Jean-Phillipe Mateta’s goal in the second half opened the scoring for the visitors
- A defeat for the Foxes will keep Ruud van Nistelrooy’s men in the relegation zone
- Listen to It all starts! Why Manchester United may have to sell Kobbie Mainoo or Alejandro Garnacho
It will take more than a few top lawyers to keep a team as weak as Leicester in the Premier League.
The Foxes escaped a possible points deduction last summer even though authorities were convinced they had broken spending rules. And they managed to go unpunished again – for now at least – when the League delivered their verdict on the club’s latest accounts this week.
But none of that matters if you can’t take risks or defend well, and boss Ruud van Nistelrooy admitted: ‘It’s the lowest we’ve felt during my time here. We need to bring back hope and reverse this negative cycle.”
Leicester missed chances and second-half goals from Jean-Philippe Mateta and Marc Guehi ensured that Crystal Palace remained unbeaten in six away games.
Leicester remains in the bottom three after six consecutive league defeats under Ruud van Nistelrooy. No wonder there were full-time boos.
“We can’t keep talking about performances,” said Van Nistelrooy. ‘Six without a win is not good enough. We need a win quickly.”
Second-half goals from Jean-Philippe Mateta and Marc Guehi secured the victory for Palace
Leicester remains in the bottom three after six consecutive league defeats under Ruud van Nistelrooy
Jean-Phillipe Mateta broke the deadlock to put Palace on course for a win on the road
Jamie Vardy could have scored twice in the opening three minutes, first when he failed to make good contact with Facundo Buonanotte’s low cross and then with a volley on the run-up that flew just wide.
Palace missed the best chance of the first half. Victor Kristiansen’s ball hit Daniel Munoz in the face and rebounded to Mateta, who even failed to test Jakub Stolarczyk from an excellent position.
Stephy Mavididi squeezed between Munoz and Will Hughes and turned the ball across goal, where Vardy squandered a difficult opportunity. At the other end, Hughes shot over shortly after James Justin had gone close with a free kick.
Palace looked vulnerable in the first half and Leicester did not make them pay. Sure enough, Ismaila Sarr shrugged off Mavididi and played the ball into Jannik Vestergaard for Mateta to round Stolarczyk and score.
Mateta was moments away from converting Munoz’s cross and Stolarcyzk made a fine save to deny Tyrick Mitchell. Vardy went just wide of the goal with Kristiansen’s cross.
Moments later, Kasey McAteer played in fellow substitute Patson Daka, but the shot was rushed and seconds later Boubakary Soumare hit the crossbar. Vardy then fired a volley at the far post into the crowd.
Those mistakes were quickly punished. Eberechi Eze turned a free kick to the far post, where the unmarked Guehi guided the ball into the roof of the net.
Palace boss Oliver Glasner said: ‘We are not happy with the performance.
‘We have to do better if we want to win at West Ham on Saturday.’