Leicester 2-1 Wolves: Timothy Castagne scores winner and Kelechi Iheanacho nets penalty

Dean Smith raised a clenched fist, shook it victoriously, and gazed around his new home as the King Power pulsed again to the sound of three points.

Leicester remembered how to win. It has been a while. Seventy days to be exact and all that mattered to most in attendance at Smith’s first home game was that they ended a nine-game winless run on a day when both Leeds and Nottingham Forest lost.

They did it with a goal from fullback Timothy Castagne, scored in the 75th minute after a penalty from Kelechi Iheanacho wiped out Matheus Cunha’s opener.

Smith and his team still have plenty in credit, with important games ahead against relegation rivals Leeds and Everton, but positive energy and faith washed back into the stadium as Leicester climbed out of the bottom three, albeit only on goal difference.

“Massive victory,” declared Smith on his 600th game as manager. “It was one we needed, and one with character and spirit to come down from a goal and give the players a lift. The supporters can see that they care.

“There’s an element of relief from the run we’ve made, but we have to keep climbing. Enjoy the moment and how it feels to win a match, but don’t get too high. There’s another big game on Tuesday.’

Wolves, despite recent advances, are not completely safe. “That’s the worst message we can send the players,” said boss Julen Lopetegui, when asked if a six-point cushion with six to play was any comfort. “It’s a very dangerous message.”

Smith’s side is more at risk, however, and he won’t be under any illusions about the magnitude of the task.

Problems intensified before kick-off when James Maddison called in sick, although the Leicester boss hopes he and Harvey Barnes will be available to play against Leeds on Tuesday.

Then Wolves struck early, when Youri Tielemans picked up a heavy ball and collected a pass from Wout Faes and Mario Lemina stepped in to win the ball. Cunha picked it up, drove forward and flashed a shot, low past Leicester goalkeeper Daniel Iversen, from just outside the box. It was a second Wolves goal for the 23-year-old Brazilian, who has been on loan from Atletico Madrid since January, and should have filled the visitors with confidence. They won the nine previous times they had taken the lead under Lopetegui.

Fans in the far corner taunted their hosts. “You go down with the Forest,” they sang. Wolves continued to dominate and Smith’s team looked vulnerable. Leicester have not kept a clean sheet since the World Cup and seemed quite capable of giving more in a hurry, with no resistance in the middle of the field.

Faes slipped to block an attempt from Cunha and Craig Dawson, venturing from behind, saw a shot go wide. There was an uneasy mood in the stands as Leicester came under more pressure, with Wolves moving the ball freely.

Then came a quick breakaway from the defense and the home side got back into the game. Iheanacho let go of Jamie Vardy and it was like a trip back in time as he accelerated to the pass, signed the keeper, hopped past him and stumbled.

The contact was clear. Sa stepped on Vardy’s right foot and it wasn’t a hard call for referee Andy Madley, who pointed to the spot. Vardy required treatment and Iheanacho converted the penalty, his fifth goal of the Premier League campaign.

Leicester’s confidence returned and they finished the half on top. Sa made a double save by moving out to the right to beat a curler from Iheanacho and responded well to a block from Patson Daka on the rebound.

Vardy stumbled through to half time but failed to return, replaced by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, as Smith took the opportunity to add more presence in his midfield.

Leicester had a chance to take the lead when Daka was played through on goal early in the second half. Sa held firm to make another save and Dewsbury-Hall swept the rebound when he should have scored. Caglar Soyuncu was next to get frustrated with the Wolves goalkeeper, but Leicester’s positive attitude again drew the crowd aside.

Lopetegui, who sent in Ruben Neves to replace the injured Lemina at the break, made more changes as Wolves struggled to find their way back into the game, and his team even improved as they fell behind, with Victor Kristiansen’s low cross flying past Sa was swept by Castagne. .

Wolves responded. Toti headed into the side net, Iversen saved a header from Hwang Hee-chan and Neves narrowly swerved a free kick over.

There was also an anxious wait for a VAR check on a possible Faes handball, but it passed and Leicester clung on for an additional five minutes. The volume went up, the faith came back and out came the ‘Foxes Never Quit’ clappers. Just like before.