Leicester 1 Crystal Palace 0: Five things we learnt from the King Power Stadium

Yohan Cabaye outplayed by cuninng Foxes

(Getty Images)

Claudio Ranieri doesn’t fancy Riyad Mahrez on the flanks

It’s a scenario which has puzzled pundits and infuriated Fantasy Football players across the country. Riyad Mahrez, the winger who sprinkled the Premier League with gold dust in the early weeks of the season, has figured largely off the bench for Leicester City in recent weeks.

The Algerian stalks the touchline with such menace that he is often assigned two markers by terrified opposition managers, but is nowadays more likely to be played in the no. 10 role by Claudio Ranieri.

With Marc Albrighton and Jeffrey Schlupp at his disposal, the Italian boss recognises that Mahrez simply doesn’t have the defensive mind-set to track back when possession is squandered.

Against a side with Yannick Bolasie and Bakory Sako ghosting in from either side, it wasn’t a risk worth taking.

While it is indisputable that Mahrez operates best as a winger, as he proved in the second half during this 1-0 victory against Crystal Palace, it remains a daring move to utilise him in that way.

In essence, Leicester don’t have the resources to facilitate a player of his calibre in his preferred position. There isn’t enough cover.

If the East Midlands outfit wish to keep the former La Havre man when the vultures swoop, which they invariably will in the coming months, Ranieri would be well advised to fix his conundrum at right-back.

Christian Fuchs offers the assurance he needs behind Schlupp on the left, but neither Danny Simpson nor Ritchie De Laet seem to work on the opposite side.

It’s about time English football gets off Jamie Vardy’s back

Rarely has there been a striker in such sparkling form for his domestic club and yet so fiercely unpopular among supporters of the national side.

You wonder whether becoming just the eighth player in Premier League history to score in seven consecutive matches will be enough to turn the tide for Jamie Vardy.

Don’t bet on it, however, for the former Halifax Town and Fleetwood striker is a square peg.

England fans are picky when it comes to crowning their star strikers, a peculiar phenomenon which Harry Kane still falls foul of. To make it for England, you either have to fit the round holes assigned to you, like Sir Bobby Charlton or Gary Lineker, or you need to be so inexplicably talented, like Wayne Rooney, that your baggage is swept beneath the carpet.

Ranieri said: “It is a big achievement for him, for us, for everybody and also our fans. One a half slices of pizza for him! It is important for him to stay calm when he doesn’t score.”

In an era of such uncertainty for the national side, where the chances of winning just a second piece of silverware dwindles with each passing, crushing, tournament, surely it is time for that footballing snobbery to be put firmly to one side.

Vardy isn’t the answer to all of Roy Hodgson’s woes but if he keeps on performing like this, he should be on the plane for France next summer – and on the teamsheet for England’s opening match.

Mike Dean gets it right

Leicester fans often bulk when they discover Mike Dean is to officiate their next Premier League game. The 47-year-old is an unpopular figure in the East Midlands and was even branded the ‘most arrogant man I have ever met’ by former boss Nigel Pearson last season.

But Foxes fans – and neutrals for that matter – should commend Dean for penalising Wilfried Zaha after a ridiculous dive in the latter moments at the King Power Stadium.

It would have been far easier for any official to award a penalty to the visitors than risk the wrath of yet another top flight manager.

Alan Pardew, the Eagles’ boss, perhaps tellingly refused to be drawn on the topic.

“We know for us to get any decisions, they need to be cast in iron,” he said before swiftly leaving the media suite.

Video replays have since appeared to vindicate Dean for his decision, but Palace supporters will argue that he would have given a free-kick if it had happened further up the field of play. The jury is always out.

Yohan Cabaye disappears in an overcrowded midfield

When Crystal Palace plucked Yohan Cabaye from Paris Saint German for £10m, it said as much about the impact of television money over the Premier League as it did about the London club’s ambition.

But regardless of the politics, the Frenchman is a magnificent capture for Pardew to have in his armoury at Selhurst Park. N’Golo Kante and Danny Drinkwater, however, had the muscle to force the former Newcastle United man out of the game.

If ever there was an example of how a match can be won in midfield, this was it. Home supporters fretted in the summer following the departure of Argentine legend Esteban Cambiasso.

Many assumed it would be Gokhan Inler, signed from Napoli, to fill the void but Drinkwater continues his return from the cold under Pearson to prove his doubters wrong and cement his spot in the Foxes line-up.

With Matty James slowly returning from a knee injury too, a position which previously caused Ranieri such persistent headaches is fast becoming his strongest area.

Meanwhile Pardew can rest easy. Cabaye has the broad shoulders required to deal with criticism and fire Palace towards contention for European football this season.

Handshakes, or lack of them, almost overshadow the football

Palace manager Pardew accused his counterpart Ranieri of not shaking his hand after the full-time whistle – but it all turned out to be an honest mistake.

Vardy scored the only goal of the game as the hosts went five points ahead of the Eagles into fifth in the Premier League table.

But Pardew says his trip to the East Midlands has been soured by Ranieri’s behaviour, out of sorts if true, and insists his players will remember this defeat when Leicester visit Selhurst Park later in the season.

He said: “I thought [Ranieri] was goading our players and he didn't shake my hand at full-time, which is disappointing.

“But it's a long game and they've got to come to our place and we'll remember that.

“It was a tight game, Leicester weren't really going anywhere and it was a mistake that cost us the game. I thought we did a pretty good job today.”

The Italian apologised after the match, saying he was swept up in the emotion of the match and went to congratulate his players instead.

“I was so glad and I went to celebrate with my players in the centre-circle,” the Italian said. “I’m so sorry to him, I think he is going to come into my office now for a glass of wine. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry to him.”