Leicester vs Crystal Palace match report: Claudio Ranieri's gamble pays off as Foxes league form picks up

Claudio Ranieri took the biggest gamble of his Leicester City reign and then watched the Premier League champions stylishly spare him a post-match inquest.

There was something of a swagger about Ranieri’s side as they saw off Palace with ease at the King Power Stadium.

And for Ranieri, the decision to omit Jamie Vardy from his starting line-up for the first time in the Premier League was rewarded as the two forwards he recalled, Ahmed Musa and Shinji Okazaki, scored the goals that set up victory.

Christian Fuchs netted a spectacular third for the Foxes before Yohan Cabaye pulled a goal back for a Palace side who made the early running and hit the crossbar through Christian Benteke at 0-0, but who were then overwhelmed by the Premier League champions.

Aside from a two-game suspension last season, Vardy had started every Premier League game since March 2015, a month before Nigel Pearson’s side would light a fire under the ‘great escape’ that began an extraordinary period for the club.

But after the striker picked up a minor groin injury in Wednesday's Champions League win over Copenhagen, Ranieri opted to make a change he knew would lead to a major post mortem in the event of defeat.

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Instead, Musa repaid the first chunk of his £16m summer transfer fee before Okazaki finished emphatically and Fuchs added a sublime moment by celebrating his new three-year contract with a stunner.

It was a priceless win for Leicester, who hitherto had struggled to combine their fine Champions League form with convincing domestic displays.

Okazaki, who replaced Vardy, missed a glorious chance to make his mark inside two minutes.

He was gifted possession by a dreadful clearance from Palace goalkeeper Steve Mandanda but misjudged his chip with the goal gaping and shot wide.

However, it was an uncertain start from the champions, who were troubled by the pace and power of Christian Benteke.

The striker turned superbly away from Wes Morgan and released Wilfried Zaha, whose shot from just inside the area was blocked by a sprawling Morgan.

And Benteke then leapt higher than Robert Huth to meet a Zaha cross and send a glancing header against the crossbar.

But a series of half-chances and some magical footwork from Riyad Mahrez sparked the hosts into life and they began to dominate.

Mahrez was denied nine minutes before half-time when he collected a smart pass by Danny Drinkwater and moved towards goal, only for his curling, left-footed shot to strike team-mate Okazaki and loop for a goal-kick.

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But Ranieri’s men went ahead three minutes before half-time as Musa opened his account.

A combination of fortunate ricochets and some strong hold-up play by Slimani gave Musa possession on the edge of the area and he took a touch before rifling a right-footed shot past Mandanda.

Just two and a half minutes into the second half Leicester should have had breathing space but Slimani missed a glorious chance to double their lead.

The Algerian striker arrived unmarked at the near post to meet a cross by Danny Simpson but he sent his header wide, leaving Ranieri with his head in his hands.

As Palace pressed for an equaliser, the previously quiet Cabaye curled a shot high and wide after exchanging passes neatly with Joe Ledley.

But Leicester maintained their pressure and a frustrated Drinkwater saw a 20-yard shot deflected wide after Palace had failed to deal well enough with a Musa cross.

And on 64 minutes Okazaki doubled the Foxes’ lead to give Ranieri some real satisfaction.

Referee Michael Oliver played an excellent advantage after Musa was floored in the build up and, when Drinkwater’s cross was half cleared, Okazaki arrived to drill a first-time shot into the bottom corner past the weak hand of Mandanda.

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Cabaye drew a routine save from Kasper Schmeichel in the Leicester goal with 20 minutes remaining.

And moments later the Dane made a much better block to deny the Frenchman after a kind deflection off Robert Huth.

Then Simpson cleared off the line from a Benteke header as the visitors began pushing hard for a goal.

But with 10 minutes later any hopes of a comeback were snuffed out spectacularly by Fuchs as he blasted home a fabulous volley from the edge of the area after Benteke had attempted to head away a Mahrez corner.

Schmeichel made a smart one-handed stop to deny Zaha but the keeper was powerless to prevent Cabaye slotting home from a Zaha cross with five minutes remaining.

And Mahrez should have added Leicester’s fourth in stoppage time but he was denied by Mandanda after an excellent link-up with substitute Vardy.

Leicester (4-2-3-1): Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Drinkwater, King (Amartey 87); Mahrez, Okazaki, Musa (Gray 81); Slimani (Vardy 75).

Subs not used: Albrighton, Schlupp, Zieler, Ulloa.

Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1): Mandanda; Ward, Tomkins, Delaney, Kelly (Fryers 77); McArthur, Ledley (Lee 72); Zaha, Cabaye, Townsend (Campbell 72); Benteke.

Subs not used: Flamini, Hennessey, Wickham, Sako.

Referee: M Oliver (Northumberland)

Attendance: 31,969