MAN CITY 1, LEICESTER CITY 3
Manchester City were found sadly lacking as Leicester City delivered a stunning statement they cannot be discounted as Barclays Premier League title contenders.
The battle of the top two ended with the Foxes scoring a resounding victory at the Etihad Stadium thanks to a brace of goals from Robert Huth and another strike from Riyad Mahrez.
And it was a win that helped Leicester, who were 5,000-1 at the start of the season to be crowned champions, establish a six-point lead over City with 13 league games left.
City were unable to live with Leicester’s high tempo pressing game as players like captain Yaya Toure were left to look slow and ponderous.
And there were no complaints from City manager Manuel Pellegrini who declared: “I have no complaints, Leicester played better than us.
“This was a defeat that was not expected and it is not fair to have excuses. We are not in our best moment and only have 14 fit players.
“We are still involved in all competitions, but we need to improve a lot after this game.”
And of Leicester’s title credentials, Pellegrini continued: “If they continue to play like that, and they have got the points, they have to have a chance to win the league.
“It is difficult to predict what will happen as there are still 13 games and 39 points left to play for.”
Pellegrini was unhappy with his side’s defending, especially from set pieces from which they conceded two goals.
City’s manager reflected that his side enjoyed a lot of possession, but did not create many chances.
Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri is delighted to be in the mix for the title declaring: “It is a crazy Premier League. There are a lot of super teams. We will try to win, why not?
“The fans must continue to dream, but I am not thinking about winning it, only the next seven days and playing Arsenal away, another fantastic match against a club with fantastic players and a fantastic stadium.
“We are alive and want to fight and to continue our dream.”
Ranieri wouldn’t talk about his side’s title chances after being placed as favourites by the bookmakers.
“I remember at the start of the season they had Ranieri the first to be sacked, may be they will be right for the first time,” he joked.
Ranieri, who described it as a “good performance” from his side, also gave an insight into the spirit at the club.
He explained: “The spirit is fantastic, something I said from the moment I arrived. We have a fantastic dressing room and the players fight for each other every time they go on to the pitch.
“It is the best spirit I can remember in my career as a manager and also as a footballer.”
City made four changes from the side that won in midweek at Sunderland.
Jesus Navas was ruled out through a hamstring strain while Kelechi Iheanacho, Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy also lost out.
City also included youngster Aleix Garcia on the bench for the first time.
Into the team came Raheem Sterling, Fabian Delph and a new full-back pairing of Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksandar Kolarov.
Leicester made a dream start taking the lead after two-and-a-half minutes to stun City, the 16th time they had scored first in a Premier League match, more than any other team.
Riyad Mahrez was fouled by Kolarov on the right edge of the box and he picked himself up to take the free kick which Huth fired home from six yards with the aid of a deflection off Martin Demichelis for his second goal of the season.
And it might have been 2-0 soon after when Vardy was put clean through only for Joe Hart to race from his line to make a brilliant block.
Hart had to make a second important block after Mahrez put Danny Drinkwater through on the left of the box.
City didn’t create their first meaningful chance until the 15th minute when David Silva wriggled free after a weaving run and fired narrowly wide.
But it was Leicester who caused all sorts of problems for City with their pressuring of the ball and high-tempo game.
City had to wait over half an hour before having a shot on target when Sergio Aguero forced a diving save from Kasper Schmeichel.
And City were left facing an even more daunting challenge when Leicester went 2-0 ahead within three minutes of the restart.
N’Golo Kante won the ball in his own half and he released Mahrez who hurdled a sliding challenge from Nicolas Otamendi to break free before lashing home an unstoppable low shot, his 16th goal of the season.
It was desperate times and they called for desperate measures and with only seven minutes of the half gone, Toure and Delph were hauled off to be replaced by Fernando Reges and Iheanacho.
And within two minutes the switches almost paid dividends when Fernando’s header from a Silva corner forced a brilliant save from Schmeichel.
It got worse for City when Leicester scored a third goal on the hour when Huth’s header from Christian Fuchs’ corner looped over Hart to leave the hosts stunned.
And but for Hart, making a club record 254th Premier League appearance for City, making a good block to deny Vardy, they would have conceded a fourth goal mid-half.
City fans were streaming from the ground with 20 minutes left, missing the Premier League debut of Bersant Celina, City’s third and final substitution.
Leicester ripped open the City defence again when Marc Albrighton released Vardy for fired into the side netting.
City scored a consolation goal after 87 minutes when Aguero headed in a cross from Celina
And the Foxes suddenly began to look jittery as an errant back pass from Huth let in Aguero but the striker fired over from a tight angle after drawing Schmeichel from his line.
It was too little, too late as it was Leicester that looked like champions as they left the pitch triumphant after writing another amazing chapter in this remarkable season – 12 months ago they were sat bottom of the table such has been their dramatic turnabout in fortunes.