Leicester City 0-1 Crystal Palace: Ledley header enough to see off Foxes

A Joe Ledley header was enough to separate the two sides as Crystal Palace managed to scrape past bottom of the table Leicester.

A Palace corner was headed on by second half substitute Brede Hangeland to Ledley who gave Palace an arguably deserved lead. Leicester nearly grabbed an equaliser as Jamie Vardy managed to force two great saves from Palace ‘keeper Julian Speroni.

The visitors started the game brighter, with Dwight Gayle impressing down the wings. The first five minutes were all Palace as they started to dominate. New signing Jordan Mutch impressed from the start and Leicester just couldn’t get the ball.

Leicester have been incredibly goal shy recently, and this was evident as they struggled to really get anything meaningful, the game soon became a battle of the defences as both sides started to press a little more.

Palace continued to dominate, with Wilfred Zaha being the key man for the Eagles. The former Manchester United winger was causing all sorts of problems for Leicester however it was the hosts who nearly took the lead. Palace defender Scott Dann almost put the ball into his own nets as he tried to deal with a difficult cross.

Despite all of Palace’s early pressure, Leicester nearly broke the deadlock when David Nugent’s header from a corner cannoned off the post, Julian Speroni was well beaten in the Palace goal.

The end to end nature of the game continued as half time approached. Zaha was still being the architect but the winger just couldn’t find any end product. Leicester continued to press but neither side could find a way to get ahead as the two sides went in goalless.

Leicester continued to lack confidence as the second half began, but the Foxes managed to have the first chance of the second half. Speroni struggled to clear his lines and the ball fell to Paul Konchesky, who drilled the shot just wide.

They were made to pay as Palace took the lead against the run of play. Joe Ledley headed the ball in after substitute Brede Hangeland controlled the ball from the corner for Lesley to smash it home. Leicester almost replied immediately as Nugent took the ball round Speroni but Esteban Cambiasso couldn’t put the ball in the goal.

Despite going behind, Leicester started to take control of the game, but just couldn’t find a way past Speroni. Against the run of play Palace almost grabbed a second goal through Jason Puncheon, but the winger’s curling effort went just wide of the goal.

Leicester brought on record signing Andrej Kramaric to try and give the Foxes some extra firepower as well as Marc Albrighton as Leicester went on the hunt for an equaliser.

Crystal Palace grew into the game again and Puncheon and substitute Yaya Sanogo linked up well before Puncheon’s ball into the area didn’t find anyone. The Eagles were dominating again and with 15 minutes left they were good value for the win.

Leicester started to fight harder in the final ten minutes and substitute Jamie Vardy almost netted an equaliser instantly after coming on. First his header was saved by Speroni, then soon after Vardy was played in by Riyad Mahrez but Speroni yet again saved it and Palace were hanging on.

The Foxes tried their hardest but just couldn’t find a way back into the game. Vardy looked impressive in the short amount of time he was on, but Palace held on for the win and Eagles boss Alan Pardew will be happy with the result.