Leicester City was subjected to harsh punishment from Crystal Palace, who won 2-0 at the King Power Stadium, inflicting the hosts’ sixth consecutive defeat in the league.
The Foxes had their highest number of shots of the season and Boubakary Soumare hit the crossbar after half-time, but they were no fool as they wasted chance after chance with Jamie Vardy the biggest culprit.
Leicester appeared to be bouncing back from their 6-2 FA Cup win over Queens Park Rangers at the weekend as they emerged from the traps and dominated the opening period, but Vardy shot straight at Dean Henderson when playing behind Stevie Mavididi.
It took Palace 51 minutes to get their first shot on target, but it was a decisive move that saw them snatch the lead against the second weakest defense in the league, when Ismaila Sarr squared Jean-Philippe Mateta to round Jakub Stolarczyk.
Chances continued to come and go for Leicester with Soumare inches away from his first goal for the club, before another punch, this time from Mark Guehi, ended their hopes of a comeback.
The England centre-back has been the subject of a lengthy pursuit by Chelsea, but after the Blues recalled Trevo Chalupa from Palace earlier on Wednesday, he looks likely to remain at Selhurst Park in this window.
Enzo Maresca’s side may have wasted an experienced striker with the quality of their line to seal the three points, as he fired a shot past Stolarczyk’s near post after Ebereci Eze had curled a free-kick over the home team’s defence.
The goals move Palace, now unbeaten in six consecutive league games, above Manchester United into 14th place, while Leicester, who were ahead of the Eagles at the start of their winless campaign, remain two points from safety in 19th.
Analysis: The decline in goals increases Leicester’s problems
Sky Sports Ron Walker:
“Leicester have a goal problem. Before Ruud van Nistelrooy was appointed, they had scored in every Premier League game bar one, but this was their fourth blank in their six-game losing streak, in which they scored just two goals.
“This would be a big enough problem if they didn’t have the second-worst defense in the division. They’ve seen this defeat to Crystal Palace before; Leicester’s performance under the new manager has been better than the results, and this was no different.
“But that won’t give them enough points to avoid the trapdoor to the tournament.
“Realistically, they will have to get out of trouble – this defense isn’t going to improve any time soon. So Jamie Vardy’s barren run, which stretches back as far as their losing streak, is a problem.
He added: “Relying on a 38-year-old striker is always dangerous, and Jordan Ayew and Patson Daka do not have the attacking power to compensate for him.”
“More arrivals at one end of the pitch or the other – or ideally both – appear to be a must if the Foxes are to survive. But after their concerns over PSR in recent years, this may be too much.”
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