West Bromwich Albion 0-1 Leicester City (original) (raw)
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Jamie Vardy has scored eight goals in 12 games for Leicester under Craig Shakespeare
Leicester City moved closer to Premier League survival as they beat West Brom at The Hawthorns to secure their first win in four Premier League games.
After a dull first 43 minutes, Leicester broke the deadlock when Shinji Okazaki intercepted Salomon Rondon's poor backpass and fed Jamie Vardy, who finished coolly past Ben Foster.
Vardy, who had just one shot on target all afternoon, almost turned provider in the second period but Okazaki failed to connect with his cross.
West Brom, who are attempting to reach a club-record Premier League points tally of 50, have failed to score in five consecutive games for the first time in their history, losing four of them.
A low-key first half was largely dominated by scraps in midfield, and Leicester's Danny Drinkwater was lucky to escape with only a yellow card after a reckless challenge on Nacer Chadli.
Claudio Yacob, following an earlier tackle on Vardy, was also booked, after elbowing Okazaki.
Vardy's first-time finish - his 13th league goal of the season - proved to be the match-winner, hauling the Foxes up to the 40-point mark.
The champions are now nine points clear of Swansea, who play Manchester United on Sunday, with four games remaining.
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Referee Mark Clattenburg had a low-key game in his final Premier League outing before he leaves for Saudi Arabia
Pulis' 40-point curse
Tony Pulis' teams have won only six of the 43 Premier League games they have played after reaching 40 points, which is seen as the tally needed to guarantee safety.
Last season, West Brom reached the mark on 2 April, but added only three points from their final seven matches.
And history seems to be repeating itself for Pulis, formerly manager of Stoke City and Crystal Palace.
In the eight games since they reached 40 points this season - on 25 February - the Baggies have secured just four points.
Victory against Arsenal and a draw at Manchester United have been overshadowed by six defeats - and four in a row.
Their problem has been scoring goals - they have now gone 465 minutes without hitting the back of the net.
That leaves Pulis and his side with four games to find another six points and set a club record.
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
On 12 March, Craig Shakespeare was appointed Leicester manager until the end of the season
Man on a mission
Pulis' counterpart at Leicester, Craig Shakespeare, has taken 19 points from a possible 27 since the departure of Claudio Ranieri, who took only 14 from his last 20 matches in charge.
And Vardy's goalscoring form has seen a similar upturn in the same period.
The England striker has scored eight goals in 12 games under Shakespeare, as many as he netted in 32 appearances under Ranieri this season.
But, despite their improvement, the Foxes arrived at The Hawthorns without a win in their past five matches.
Vardy's goal ended that run - and ensured Shakespeare, a former Albion player and coach, had a happy return to The Hawthorns.
Man of the match - Jamie Vardy (Leicester)
Image source, Rex Features
Image caption,
Vardy scored with Leicester's only shot on target
'Players haven't packed it in' - what the managers said
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West Brom did not deserve to lose - Pulis
West Brom manager Tony Pulis: "I don't think we deserved to lose.
"It was a poor goal we conceded, losing possession in the final third, and Vardy scores those goals all the time. You give him a chance and he scores.
"We had opportunities and we played some good football, with 16 efforts on goal. They've had one chance and Vardy stuck it away.
"We know where we are and what we're doing. The players are running around, it's not as if they've packed it in. We need a break.
"Everybody at this football club has given everything this year. They are a good group of players and they work really hard."
Media caption,
'Gutsy' performance pleases Shakespeare
Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare: "I am pleased with our performance.
"We had to show different aspects of it today - we had to defend. It was a gutsy performance.
"The fans have stuck behind us and I'm pleased they can reap the rewards tonight.
"It will be a difficult end to the season and we have to try and win every game we can.
"I want Jamie Vardy to finish on a high. He's scored quite a few of late and we need that to continue."
Leicester love The Hawthorns - stats you need to know
- Leicester have won their past three Premier League away games against West Brom, their joint-longest away winning streak at a club in the competition (also vs Liverpool and Manchester City).
- Vardy has now scored in all three of his Premier League appearances at The Hawthorns (three goals).
- Pulis' side have lost three consecutive home league games for the first time in almost exactly a year - last doing so on 30 April 2016.
- The Foxes have won 50% of their league games this season when both Vardy and Shinji Okazaki have started (7/14) compared to just 20% when they have not (4/20).
What's next?
West Brom travel to Burnley on 6 May (15:00 BST) before a tricky run of games in which they host Chelsea and visit Manchester City.
Leicester take on Watford at the King Power Stadium on 6 May before a similarly difficult run-in, in which they have to travel to Manchester City before welcoming title-chasers Tottenham.
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