Leicester City made it three narrow wins in a row by beating Crystal Palace 1-0 at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
The Foxes maintained their five-point lead on second-placed Tottenham Hotspur thanks to a first-half strike from Riyad Mahrez in what was a fairly entertaining affair in South London.
The only goal of the contest came in the 34th minute when Danny Drinkwater found Jamie Vardy on the left side of the area and the club's leading scorer fired a low left-footed cross into the path of Algerian whiz Mahrez who did the rest with a emphatic finish, tallying his 16th league goal of the season in the process.
Palace created chances of their own but were unable to breach Kasper Schmeichel and his defence as the Foxes made it three 1-0 wins on the trot.
Claudio Ranieri's Leicester are now unbeaten in their past five in the league, four of which have been wins, while Alan Pardew's Eagles have not win 13 and are still to record a Premier League victory in 2016.
MATCH OVERVIEW
Crystal Palace: 0
Leicester City: 1 (Riyad Mahrez 34')
Selhurst Park, London - 25,041
TALKING POINTS
- Palace are the worst-performed team in 2016. Are they in real danger of being dragged into a relegation fight? Should Pardew be worried?
- Leicester continue on their merry way and now have the international break to rest. Will they carry on and maintain their current gap on the rest of the competition?
WHAT'S NEXT?
Palace will be desperate to win when they meet London rivals West Ham on April 2 as Leicester brace for the visit of Southampton on the same date.
TWITTER INSIGHT
Big away win today and a clean sheet. The boys dug in and a class goal from @Mahrez22#foxesneverquit#lcfcpic.twitter.com/SZMPygDDuk
— Danny Simpson (@dannysimpson) March 5, 2016
Another big win!! #LCFCpic.twitter.com/ON4j607AXq
— Andy King (@10_kingy) March 5, 2016
QUOTES CORNER
Palace boss Pardew on the impending relegation battle:
"We know we are involved in that (relegation battle). We have enough in the dressing room to make sure we are not involved, but the bottom line is to get some points quickly."
Leicester's Ranieri on what's ahead:
"We have to be focused. Sometimes I've said we are at the last turn, and now we are on the final, home straight. Now I want to see my horses, how they run.
"We have to fight every match. We are in the Europa League and we are very close to achieving the Champions League.
"There are seven matches to go at the end. It's not easy for us for now."
STATS SPECIALS
*Thanks to Opta
0 - Crystal Palace are the only side in the top four tiers in England yet to win in 2016. Bleak.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 19, 2016
27 - Riyad Mahrez has been involved in more PL goals this season than anyone else (16 goals, 11 assists), two more than Vardy (25). Foxy.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 19, 2016
13 - Leicester City have won 13 games by a one goal margin this season, more than any other @PremierLeague team. Edge.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 19, 2016
7 - Riyad Mahrez has scored more winning goals in the Premier League than any other player this season. Crucial.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 19, 2016
