Tottenham Hotspur 0-2 Leicester City: Three Things We Learned

Leicester City added another impressive away scalp to their collection as they dismissed of Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 on Sunday.

Jamie Vardy gave the visitors the lead on the stroke of half-time as he once again converted from the penalty spot following a foul from Serge Aurier. Leicester thought they had doubled their advantage just after the restart as James Maddison speared home but he was ruled marginally offside. The Foxes did get their second eventually though with Vardy’s header across goal being bundled into his own net by Toby Alderweireld. They now move up to second in the table, the second consecutive season in which they will occupy that position at Christmas, whilst Tottenham drop to fifth.

Here are three things we learned from North London:

Leicester the away day specialists

It’s been a bizarre season for Leicester on home soil with defeats to Fulham, West Ham United and Aston Villa but the story could not be any different on foreign soil. After seven Premier League away fixtures so far this season, Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes have won six. Some of those victories have been at notoriously difficult places to travel to as well including the Etihad Stadium, the Emirates and now the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

It all means that no side in the entire league have accrued more points on their travels than the Foxes, whilst no side have more wins. As a matter of fact, only Manchester United, who too have been impressive on the road, have netted more away goals than Leicester’s 17.

If Brendan Rodgers’ side can align their form at home with their displays on the road, then they could be real contenders for the top four come the end of the campaign.

Clumsy Aurier

For all of their impressive defensive play under Mourinho, one man has habitually been the weak point. That man is right-back Aurier.

Since joining Tottenham, the former Paris Saint Germain man has given away four penalties in the Premier League, with only Arsenal’s David Luiz conceding more in that same time period. He showed that rash and clumsy nature again against Leicester, shoving Wesley Fofana in the back on the corner of the penalty area.

Whilst the spot-kick needed assistance from VAR to be awarded, the decision was an easy one, and a needless foul from Aurier –  one that cost his team on the day. It remains puzzling that Mourinho keeps faith in the Ivorian when he has summer signing Matt Doherty on the bench.

Tottenham relinquish title tag?

Just a week ago, Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham looked like genuine challengers for the Premier League title. At that time, they were the frontrunners.

Following a run of three matches without a win, the complexion has completely changed. They struggled against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, whilst they were then beaten late on by Liverpool at Anfield. This defeat against Leicester will frustrate more than most though, with the North Londoners for large swaths not looking like getting back into the game.

That lack of consistency could very much cost them and looks like it may well have done already with Spurs sitting fifth and already six points behind current leaders Liverpool. They are now available at odds as wide as 19/1 with Betfair to lift their debut Premier League crown come the end of the season.

Match Report

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris (6); Reguilon (6), Dier (6), Alderweireld (5), Aurier (5) (Winks (5), 64′); Ndombele (5) (Bale (5), 45′), Sissoko (6) Hojbjerg (5); Lo Celso (6) (Lucas (4), 49′), Son (5), Kane (5).

Leicester City: Schmeichel (7); Justin (7), Fofana (7), Evans (7), Castagne (7) (Amartey (6), 60′); Ndidi (7), Tielemans (8), Maddison (7); Albrighton (7), Barnes (7) (Praet (N/A), 84′), Vardy (8) (Iheanacho (N/A), 88′).

Goals: Vardy (PEN 45+4′)

Referee: Craig Pawson

Yellow Cards: Albrighton (32′), Ndidi (72′), Dier (79′), Winks (81′)

Red Cards: N/A