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As it happenedended

Tottenham keep Premier League title hopes alive with close-fought victory against Leicester

Relive all the action from Wembley

Harry Latham-Coyle
Sunday 10 February 2019 16:11 GMT
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Tottenham v Leicester: Premier League match preview

Tottenham kept themselves in the Premier League title race with a 3-1 win over Leicester, who saw Jamie Vardy miss a penalty with his first touch of the game.

Goals from Davinson Sanchez, Christian Eriksen and Son Heung-min inspired a fourth successive victory which ensures Spurs will finish the weekend within five points of top spot.

Vardy, who was dropped to the substitutes' bench amid rumours of a bust-up with Claude Puel, missed the chance to equalise as his spot-kick immediately after coming on was saved by Hugo Lloris, though the former England striker atoned for it later by turning home to give his side a glimmer of hope.

But Spurs made the game safe at the death when Son scored a breakaway goal, which gave them a 20th win of the campaign and kept them hot on the heels of title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City.

PA

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Late team news for Leicester:

Nampalys Mendy has picked up a knock in the warm-up; Wilfred Ndidi starts. Kelechi Iheanacho replaces his compatriot on the bench.

From what I've seen from Leicester in recent weeks, perhaps a blessing in disguise.

Harry Latham-Coyle10 February 2019 13:19

"I would like to develop other options than Jamie (Vardy)," responds Claude Puel when questioned on the striker's absence.

"I think Demarai (Gray) has good attributes to play this position. He's comfortable with the ball. It is a good opportunity for him and for us."

Harry Latham-Coyle10 February 2019 13:21

A gloomy, wet and breezy day in the capital.

No problems of ice falling from the arch as there were a week ago, but fairly miserable conditions.

A lovely round of applause as Emiliano Sala is shown on the big screen at Wembley. 

The teams are in the tunnel, and we are almost ready to go...

Harry Latham-Coyle10 February 2019 13:26

Harry Winks gets the game underway.

Harry Latham-Coyle10 February 2019 13:31

1 minute

Demarai Gray does indeed lead the line for Leicester, with James Maddison in behind.

Tottenham appear to have returned to the four-man diamond in midfield with Christian Eriksen at the apex behind Heung-Min Son and Fernando Llorente.

Harry Latham-Coyle10 February 2019 13:33

2 minutes

Tottenham move the ball forward for the first time and the space for Danny Rose is spark.

The left-back crosses to the far post from the byline where Kieran Trippier chests and volleys goalwards.

Blocked. Spurs corner.

Harry Latham-Coyle10 February 2019 13:34

3 minutes

The corner is headed to Oliver Skipp on the edge of the box. The youngster hits his half-volley crisply, but there is a line of blue-shirted bodies for him to penetrate and he is unable to do so.

Harry Latham-Coyle10 February 2019 13:35

4 minutes

Lively start from Tottenham.

Kieran Trippier, Moussa Sissoko and Heung-Min Son work a triangle down the right, running Ben CHilwell ragged with Harvey Barnes also doing his best to corral the trio.

Harry Maguire shepherds the ball out of play with Son pressing.

Harry Latham-Coyle10 February 2019 13:36

6 minutes

Both of Tottenham's full-backs are pushing on and looking to get forward, and there seems to be space for the pair with Leicester's wingers failing to track their opponents.

A long ball over the top is well chased down by Demarai Gray, out-pacing Davinson Sanchez to Youri Thielemans well-waited clip, but his support is slow and the makeshift striker is forced to look backwards. 

Harry Latham-Coyle10 February 2019 13:38

8 minutes

A Leicester free kick about 40 yards from goal on the right is poorly defended by Spurs' high-line, Fernando Llorente losing track of Harry Maguire at the far post.

Maguire's header forces Hugo Lloris to tip over.

And from the resulting corner Jonny Evans breaks free from his marker and should do more with his header from six yards out.

Harry Latham-Coyle10 February 2019 13:40

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