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Leicester secure away win against Swansea after Shakespeare departure.

Leicester bounced back from a week of turmoil as they beat Swansea 2-1 at the Liberty Stadium.

It gave Caretaker manager Michael Appleton a win in his first game in charge of the Foxes.

The visitors took a 25th-minute lead when Swansea centre-back Federico Fernandez headed Riyad Mahrez’s cross past his own goalkeeper, before Shinji Okazaki doubled their advantage four minutes after half-time.

However, despite the home side reducing the deficit thanks to Alfie Mawson’s excellent finish, Leicester have managed to end a run of six Premier League matches without a win. As a result, Leicester have now moved a point above their opponents into 13th in the table thanks to their first away win in the league since April.

After bossing the first portion of the game, Leicester took a deserved lead when Okazaki released Mahrez down the left wing.
Swansea’s defence momentarily stopped, thinking the ball had gone out of play, but Mahrez continued, before cutting back into the penalty area and seeing Fernandez inadvertently divert his drilled centre past Lukasz Fabianski.

Appleton’s side increased their lead minutes after the break as Jamie Vardy, on the counter, found Mahrez in space in the box, with the Swansea defence desperately pleading for offside.

The Algeria international was just onside, though, before laying the ball across the six-yard box for the unmarked Okazaki to tap home past a horribly exposed Fabianski.
Swansea did manage to pull a goal back, albeit out of the blue, as Jordan Ayew flicked a left-wing corner on to Mawson, who did brilliantly to swivel and turn in a tight space, before hooking the ball into the far corner of the goal.

That strike was not enough to rouse Paul Clement’s team, however, with Leicester comfortably holding out for the three points that lift them out of the drop zone.

It was a massive step back for Paul Clements team, who lacked any passion on the pitch today. A totally demoralising performance for the Swansea fans to watch, especially at home.

Man of the Match – Riyad Mahrez:

Mahrez has responded brilliantly to being dropped by previous boss Craig Shakespeare against Bournemouth in September.
The Algeria international grabbed his side’s crucial late equaliser in Monday night’s draw at home with West Bromwich Albion, before turning in an eye-catching display today. And with the twinkle-toed playmaker creating both of the Foxes’ goals, he was the visitors’ star man in South Wales.

Written by Gafyn Donald.

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