Burnley vs Leicester City reaction: Jamie Vardy and Kasper Schmeichel the heroes as ruthless Foxes climb the Premier League table

Burnley 0 Leicester City 1

(Getty)

As referee Anthony Taylor blew the final whistle at Turf Moor, confirming Leicester City's fourth consecutive Premier League victory, Kasper Schmeichel and Esteban Cambiasso didn't even have the energy to celebrate.

The heroic Foxes pair, both of whom had just given everything for the cause, fell into each other and embraced as the visiting supporters went delirious in the away end.

Foxes goalkeeper Schmeichel was the hero, despite Jamie Vardy scoring the winner in the 59th minute, after making two world-class saves to consign Burnley to a second week at the bottom.

Nigel Pearson's men, meanwhile, climb out of the relegation zone for the first time since November as their stunning revival continues in earnest.

Matty Taylor reflects on his penalty miss (Getty)

The Leicester manager often speaks of 'fine margins' in his press conferences, underlining the fact that there are still many swings of the pendulum yet to come, but even he couldn't have imaged the circumstances of their fourth win on the bounce.

Watching set-play master Matty Taylor send Schmeichel the wrong way from the penalty spot, following Paul Knochesky's clumsy challenge, must have been torture for Pearson.

Luckily for him - and the 3,000 supporters perched at the opposite end of the ground, the ball struck the post on its way out for a goalkick.

The Foxes' Danish shot-stopper had already been called upon in the first half after Lukas Jutkiewicz fired a point-blanc drive down his throat in the goalmouth from a whipped Kieran Trippier corner.

Kasper Schmeichel greets the Leicester fans at full-time (Getty)

Marc Albrighton, so impressive for the East Midlanders in recent weeks, picked up the ball on the right wing, seconds after Taylor's missed spot kick, and galloped towards Tom Heaton's goal.

The former Aston Villa man's cross was searching, but Vardy still seemed surprised to be the beneficiary as he wheeled away to celebrate with the Foxes faithful. It had taken 59 seconds for despair to become joy, or vice versa.

Schmeichel's masterclass wasn't finished though. The 28-year-old produced what many will surely recall as potentially the save of the season with just seven minutes remaining.

Nigel Pearson celebrates the win (Getty)

As Burnley turned the screw, urged forwards by Sean Dyche, former Leicester loanee Ben Mee fired a hopeful punt across goal. Deflecting awkwardly off Robert Huth's boot, the Dane was forced to corkscrew his body to keep it out - by any means.

The victories over West Ham, West Bromwich Albion and Swansea had been greeted with scenes of elation among the Leicester players. But this had been a hard day at the office. There was no jumping for joy, just relief and exhausted hugs.

Jose Mourinho's champions-in-waiting Chelsea are next.