Leicester City move three points clear at the top of the Premier League table, dealing Stoke City a massive blow in their search for a place in Europe with a 3-0 win.
Danny Drinkwater opened the scoring just before half-time with a volley through a crowded penalty area that prevented Jack Butland from seeing anything.
A long ball forward for Jamie Vardy allowed him to round Butland mid-way through the second half to double the Foxes lead and give Stoke a real task.
After a wonderful piece of skill to wiggle his way through the Potters defence Riyad Mahrez, rolled the ball accross the area for Leonardo Olloa to tap home at the death, completing the win.
Leicester unplayable
The side favourites to fall to relegation rose to the occasion, instantly getting on top of the away side, refusing to give up on their title hopes despite a recent run of just one win in five league matches.
The match-up took a while to take shape as Stoke wandered back into old habits with a number of fouls in the opening minutes as they attempted to disrupt the Foxes rhythm. Leicester shrugged off the hard challenges and won a succession of corners, a miscleared ball fell to Drinkwater who struck well past a blinded Butland.
A vital goal from Vardy midway through the second-half was a welcome one to the striker who was in the midst of a goal drought, the 29-year-old had went over 10 hours without a Premier League goal but his worries were over once he pounced onto to a quality ball from Drinkwater.
Vardy bullied the Stoke defence to get himself a clear goalscoring opportunity and showed the fans at the King Power Stadium his real quality and talent that is propelling him to stardom.
Many critics questioned the signing of Robert Huth suggesting an attacking side like Leciester would not be able to accomodate such a old fashioned centre-back, however the 31-year-old has formed an impressive partnership at the back with captain Wes Morgan as their defence looks an assured one.
Despite much attention being placed on Jamie Vardy earlier on in the season, it has been Riyad Mahrez who has been the media sweetheart as of late thanks to his dynamic dribbles and eye- catching skill, the forward performed an 'elastico' through the legs of Phillipp Wollschied before teeing up Olloa to tap home.
Leicester rocketed back up the table to first place in incredible style and pet the pressure firmly back on Arsenal, with the title race entering its final few months the Foxes could only dream of being in this position last season as a newly promoted side.
With tough fixtures stIll to play in the coming weeks including Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City, Claudio Ranieri will be hoping his players take as much morale from this victory as they enter a period of true test.
Have Stoke blown Europe?
The contest promised more than the one sided affair it turned out to be, with Stoke battling for a place in Europe and Leicester aiming high at top spot, the two attacking and creative sides should have been evenly matched but alas it was a day to forget for the Potters.
With Mark Hughes' side now sitting ninth in the Premier League table every point is vital if he wants to do what no other manager at the Britannia has done before via the league, but with three points dropped here, he has a massive task to handle.
The away side could be forgiven for a poor display as they faced a tough Arsenal side last week and held them to a goalless draw in what proved to be a favour to the home side, a trip to Liverpool in the League Cup on Tuesday offers a shot at redemption, with the magic of Wembley just one win away.
If they stand any chance of overturning their 1-0 defecit they will have to find their attacking instincts after seemingly leaving them at home today, opting to return to their former stereotype of fouling the opposition and playing long balls.
Leicester offered them a front row view of how to play truly creative football and should be a shining example of what Stoke can be, Hughes may have got the ball rolling at his new club but still has a lot to do to improve his side if he is serious about fighting for a place in Europe,
Xherdan Shaqiri was one of the quietest players on the pitch as the Switzerland international offered little which cost his side dearly andthe injury to Ryan Shawcross was a huge blow also, the centre-back is scheduled to have back surgery soon and may have aggravated any already occuring injury.
With tricky fixtures against Liverpool, Crystal Palace and Manchester United coming up fast Hughes will need his players to shake off any mental torment and get them back on the path to being one of the most exciting teams in the league this season.