English Premier League: Foxes trot to top

Leicester (England): Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez fired Leicester back to the top of the Premier League and extended Chelsea’s miserable season with a 2-1 victory on Monday that heaped renewed pressure on Jose Mourinho.

Mahrez created Vardy’s 15th goal of the season with a wonderful cross on 34 minutes. Then the Algeria winger scored superbly on 48 minutes to take his own tally to 12 and double the Foxes’ lead as their fairytale season continued.

Claudio Ranieri’s side have lost just once all season and, although Chelsea substitute Loic Remy got one back in the closing stages, the hosts held on for a win that put them two points clear of second-placed Arsenal and condemned beleaguered Blues boss Mourinho to a ninth defeat in 16 league games.

Mourinho’s men remarkably sit just one point above the relegation zone and, a week after their shock home loss to Bournemouth, inevitably there will be more speculation that the Portuguese coach faces the sack.

“We can’t finish top four, but we can still finish top six because so many teams are dropping points,” Mourinho told BBC Sport. “But at the moment we’re in a zone where I feel ashamed.”

To add to Mourinho’s problems, Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard limped down the tunnel looking frustrated after his manager had asked him to continue following an injury.

In contrast, Vardy’s amazing season continued as the England striker netted just one game after his record-breaking run of 11 successive league matches with a goal came to an end.

Leicester started brightly and Mahrez tricked his way past Cesar Azpilicueta early on to create a shooting chance. He side-stepped John Terry on the edge of the area but his effort gave Thibaut Courtois a comfortable save. Leicester suffered a blow when influential midfielder Danny Drinkwater was forced to limp off on 17 minutes.