Marc Albrighton insists Leicester City are on an upward trajectory after Manchester United robbery

The Foxes are in good form, barring a blip against Crystal Palace, and Claude Puel continues to impress

Marc Albrighton thinks the only way is up (Getty)

Marc Albrighton insists Leicester City are looking up, rather than down, in the second half of the season after grabbing a last-gasp equaliser against Manchester United that keeps them in touch with the European places.

It was the former Aston Villa winger’s swirling parabola of a cross that allowed Harry Maguire to head home at the death and notch up another impressive result for the unassuming and underrated Claude Puel.

And Albrighton insists that the Foxes are on an upward trajectory, pulling away from the likes of Everton and Watford – the latter of whom they face today.

"I think we've got to be looking certainly top half of the table,” Marc Albrighton said after Saturday’s draw with United.

"We've put ourselves in a good position where we are now, but I think we can kick on even further. We'll aim to get more points the second half of the season than we did in the first half."

Against a Manchester United side that looks increasingly unsure of itself, Leicester played with guile, spirit and dogged tenacity at the weekend.

They were lucky, of course, that their opponents failed to take their multiple chances in front of goal but the hosts make sure to capitalise on such prolifagcy – and did so in dramatic fashion, with the barrel-chested Maguire clinching a late stoppage-time equaliser. After last week’s setback against Palace, this gave Puel and his men something to smile about.

Leicester have been reinvigorated by Claude Puel (Getty)

Perhaps most reassuringly for those involved at Leicester, this was further confirmation of progress under the softly-spoken Frenchman. Since his appointment in late October, Leicester have lost just twice and now sit in eighth on 27 points. Although anything is possible in this league – as the club’s most famous success is testament to – and the Foxes can now stop peering over their shoulders and begin to look forward. Whether that means a spot in the Europa League, it’s too early to say. But there’s certainly a sense that Leicester must now push on.

That means, then, getting a result against an out-of-form Watford on Boxing Day. The Foxes have won just once on the road this season but, in light of their recent form and the Hornets’ current struggles, the side feel confident heading to Vicarage Road. After that, six of Leicester’s next seven home games come against sides currently tenth or lower in the league. Given their hard start to the season, this is Leicester’s chance to make up for lost ground.

Capping off the side’s resurgence is the never-say-die character that was shown in the midweek defeat by Manchester City and then Saturday’s draw against United. “It's credit to our character as not only players but as people,” Albrighton added. “We don't give up and we never, in my time at the club, we never have and never will. I think we did it the other night against Man City to get to penalties. To have the games we've had this week and still be fighting in the dying seconds against Man united with 10 men is a massive credit to us.