by Ian Baker
Friday, December 26, 2014
Tottenham claimed their third successive Premier League win as Christian Eriksen’s free kick sealed a 2-1 success at bottom-of-the-table Leicester on Friday.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side had goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to thank for an outstanding performance as Leicester dominated for long periods after Leonardo Ulloa cancelled out Harry Kane’s first-minute opener for Spurs.
The north Londoners’ gritty win means they are in sixth place and just two points behind Southampton in the race to qualify for the Champions League via a top four finish.
Leicester manager Nigel Pearson was serving a one-match touchline ban following his recent confrontation with a supporter and he watched his out-of-form team, now without a victory in 12 games, get off to the worst possible start.
Nabir Chadi’s cross found Kane who coolly beat Wes Morgan before finishing well past Ben Hamer for his 14th goal of the season against the side he played for on loan two seasons ago.
Tottenham appeared to be in total control when Nabol Bentaleb fired wide after a fine run.
But Leicester were close to a leveller when Jeffrey Schlupp broke from his own penalty area and found Ulloa, whose spectacular volley was pushed over by Lloris.
From the resulting Riyad Mahrez corner Marcin Wasilewski headed over following David Nugent’s flick-on.
Tottenham went close again when Eriksen forced Hamer into a save while at the other end Danny Drinkwater dragged a shot wide.
The visitors should have made it 2-0 just past the half hour with Bentaleb running through but Paul Konchesky raced back to make a last-ditch tackle.
Leicester continued to threaten and Schlupp’s shot deflected into the hands of Lloris before Ulloa drove wide after a well-worked move involving Drinkwater.
Mahrez saw his left-footed effort well saved by Lloris as the hosts started to turn the screw, and Ulloa then headed against the post from Mahrez’s inch-perfect cross.
Tottenham, though, could have scored a second in first-half stoppage-time with Kane heading Erik Lamela’s free kick fractionally wide.
Nugent had the first chance for the hosts after the break as he volleyed over following a long kick by Hamer.
The hosts were level on 48 minutes as Danny Simpson’s deflected pass fell nicely to Mahrez who beat Bentaleb before crossing for Ulloa who flicked home his seventh goal of the season.
Within moments Mahrez had struck the bar with a 25-yard free kick as Leicester looked to have swung the game their way.
Leicester continued to press with Schlupp’s low cross well held by Lloris as the cold and wet conditions became more treacherous.
Lloris came to Tottenham’s rescue again when he saved a powerful Schlupp drive but Tottenham took the lead against the run of play on 71 minutes.
Eriksen’s low free kick from 25 yards beat Hamer at his near post, finding the net via the woodwork for his seventh of the season.
Kane struck the side-netting shortly afterwards with another long range effort but Leicester continued to attack with Drinkwater’s left-foot drive going just wide and Mahrez blazing over from Schlupp’s cross.
Substitute Jamie Vardy then headed Mahrez’s free kick just over and Wes Morgan was unable to scramble home another Mahrez cross.
Lloris kept out another Morgan header from Anthony Knockaert’s corner, but Leicester could not a force an equaliser despite Hamer going up for two late corners
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Leicester City 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur
