Leicester continued to breathe new life into their Premier League
survival bid under the guidance of Craig Shakespeare as he strengthened
his claims for the manager's job with victory against relegation rivals
Hull.
Shakespeare, assistant to previous boss Claudio Ranieri, has won both
matches in interim charge 3-1 after his side followed up Monday's home
victory over Liverpool with another three points.
Goals from Christian Fuchs and Riyad Mahrez and a Tom Huddlestone own
goal overturned the lead given to Hull by Sam Clucas and gave the
defending champions back-to-back league wins for the first time this
season.
Leicester are still sounding out potential replacements for Ranieri,
with former England manager Roy Hodgson reported to be among the names
being explored, yet it could now be difficult to look beyond Shakespeare
following the marked improvement under his stewardship.
The 53-year-old, who would like the job, appears to have the backing of
the majority of the Leicester fans - as well as the players. He is also
highly regarded by Jon Rudkin, the club's director of football.
Leicester are now set to fly off to Dubai for a four-day warm weather
training camp and Shakespeare will meet with the club's owners on their
return later next week to discuss his prospects.
Leicester began the game with the same renewed vigour they showed in
defeating Liverpool - the first match since Ranieri was sacked - and
created a host of early chances.
Wes Morgan headed wide from a Mahrez free-kick before two dangerous low
crosses from Jamie Vardy into the six-yard box were expertly turned
behind under considerable pressure by Harry Maguire and then Andrew
Robertson.
Maguire then bravely threw himself in front of a goal bound shot from Robert Huth and Hull survived once more.
It was against the run of play when Hull took the lead after 14 minutes.
Clucas led a swift break through the middle before Oumar Niasse and
Kamil Grosicki combined down the left side of the penalty area and
Clucas, released by Leicester as a schoolboy, slid in to poke home
Grosicki's cross from six yards out.
Not for the first time since Ranieri's sacking, the Leicester players
were under the spotlight and asked to respond -- and as against
Liverpool they did so.
Left-back Fuchs linked up brilliantly with Vardy down the flank, playing
a couple of one-twos before continuing his run into the area where he
was on hand to finish off Vardy's cut back from 10 yards out. However,
goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic will be disappointed the ball crept beneath
him.
Having frustrated Leicester at one end during the first half, Maguire
made a nuisance of himself in attack at the start of the second.
The defender saw a header clip a post following a corner and shortly
afterwards worked Kasper Schmeichel with another header from a Grosicki
delivery.
Jakupovic kept out a tame effort from Mahrez just before the hour, but the Algeria international was merely finding his range.
Next time the ball was at his feet, Mahrez turned Robertson one way then
the other trying to create an opening for a shot and, after cutting
back for the third time, he found the bottom corner with a shot from the
edge of the area.
It was a rare glimpse of the magic that earned him the PFA Players'
Player of the Year award last season, but once more Jakupovic should
probably have done better.
Hull tried to respond immediately and Schmeichel had to punch clear a
free-kick whipped in by Grosicki before blocking an effort from Niasse
at his near post with six minutes remaining.
After Jakupovic saved to deny Demarai Gray, Leicester sealed victory in
the final minute when Onyinye Ndidi's header from a corner struck
Huddlestone and flew into the net.
It was a huge win for the champions, who are now five points clear of the relegation zone.
Hull, meanwhile, remain second bottom of the table and are four points from safety after Crystal Palace won at West Brom.
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