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Live Commentary: Leicester City 0-1 Crystal Palace - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live text commentary of Leicester City's 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at the King Power Stadium in the Premier League.
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Joe Ledley scored the only goal as Crystal Palace claimed a 1-0 victory over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium this afternoon.

The Welshman struck with a close-range header from a corner early in the second half

David Nugent hit the bar for Leicester in the first half, but they were unable to make any of their chances count and remain rooted firmly to the bottom of the Premier League table.

Find out how the action unfolded with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.


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Good afternoon everyone. We've got another packed weekend of Premier League action, with seven games taking place in the top flight today. Here, our attentions will be turned to events taking place at the King Power Stadium, as lowly Leicester City take on an improving Crystal Palace side.

The Foxes have endured a tough season and they are currently sat at the bottom of the league. It was always going to be hard for them after winning promotion last time around, but three points today could lift them up to 17th and out of the relegation zone.

Making the trip to the East Midlands this afternoon is a Crystal Palace outfit who have been rejuvenated under Alan Pardew. The Eagles had actually won four on the bounce under their manager until last weekend's 1-0 defeat against Everton and they will be looking to get back on track with a positive result today.

Right, the team-sheets have been handed in by both managers, so let's take a look at which players will be starting today.

LEICESTER CITY XI: Schwarzer, Simpson, Wasilewski, Morgan, Konchesky, Cambiasso, James, Mahrez, Nugent, Schlupp, Ulloa

CRYSTAL PALACE XI: Speroni, Ward, Delaney, Dann, Kelly, Puncheon, McArthur, Ledley, Zaha, Mutch, Gayle

LEICESTER CITY SUBS: De Laet, Drinkwater, Vardy, King, Albrighton, Hamer, Kramaric

CRYSTAL PALACE SUBS: Hennessey, Mariappa, Hangeland, Guedioura, Campbell, Murray, Sanogo

TEAM NEWS: Leicester manager Nigel Pearson has made five changes to his side, with Esteban Cambiasso, Paul Konchesky, Matty James, Riyad Mahrez and David Nugent all returning to the starting lineup. Meanwhile, there are two changes for Palace, as Jordon Mutch and Wilfried Zaha come in for the injured Marouane Chamakh and the benched Yaya Sanogo.

It's got to that point in the season where teams cannot afford to make any more mistakes and Leicester are certainly no exception. The Foxes knew that they would be involved in a battle against relegation following their promotion from the Championship and they are propping up the table at the moment, sitting two points behind fellow strugglers Hull and QPR.

They did enjoy a rare decent spell last month that saw them beat Hull and Aston Villa and come from two goals down to draw against Liverpool at Anfield, but successive league defeats against Stoke and Man Utd have slowed that momentum.

It's not all doom and gloom though, as they are just three points behind 17th-placed Burnley and they will move out of the relegation zone if results go their way today. They are also going strong in the FA Cup, as a 2-1 win against Tottenham saw seen them reach the fifth round, where they will play Midlands rivals Aston Villa.

Nigel Pearson will also be hoping that his January signings can help the club to secure Premier League survival. Mark Schwarzer and Andrej Kramaric had already joined the Foxes, before Robert Huth arrived on loan from Stoke on deadline day. Pearson admitted that he did not manage to bring in all the players he wanted, but at least he has added some quality in positions that the club have really needed.

Kramaric's arrival was certainly needed, as they have struggled to find the net at times this season. They have actually managed just 21 goals in the league this season, which is the joint third-lowest in the top flight. Their record at the back isn't too great either, with only Burnley and QPR conceding more.

Let's move on to the visitors now, who are also battling against the drop. Palace are six points clear of Leicester, but only four above the relegation zone. Following their amazing end to the last campaign there are many people who expected a mid-table finish, but it hasn't quite gone to plan.

A lot of that has to do with the turmoil experienced at the start of the season when Tony Pulis left. He was replaced by Neil Warnock, who was sacked from his position at the end of December following a string of poor results.

However, things appear to have settled since Alan Pardew was appointed at the beginning of the year. Palace romped to a 4-0 victory in the FA Cup over Dover in his first game, before they came from behind to beat Spurs 2-1 a week later. The Eagles fought back once again as they overcame a 2-0 deficit to beat Burnley 3-2 and they made it four wins in a row by beating Southampton in the cup by the same scoreline in their next outing.

That run came to an end, as they were beaten 1-0 by Everton last weekend, in what was Pardew's first defeat as manager. He will be expecting his players to bounce back today and ensure that they don't become entangled in a relegation dogfight. With home matches to come against Newcastle and Arsenal, the next couple of weeks really could define their season.

Leicester seem to have the very slightest edge over Palace in terms of their past meetings. The Foxes have won 23 of their previous 62 matches, while the Eagles have won 22 of those games. However, when the teams last met at Selhurst Park back in September, it was Palace who came out on top. Two goals in the space of three minutes shortly after half time from Fraizer Campbell and Mile Jedinak gave the Eagles a 2-0 win, that ensured their first home victory of the season.

PREDICTION: It's always tough to call these sort of games, as there is so much to play for this afternoon. Both teams suffered defeats last time out and will be desperate to bounce back today. I think that the hosts have a little bit more quality in their team, but I am backing Leicester to pick up a vital point in their relegation battle, with the game ending in a 1-1 draw.

You've just heard my thoughts on the match, so with not long to go until kick off make sure you check out the views from the guys down at Sports Mole HQ in our video preview.


Here come the players out of the tunnel and we are now just four minutes away from the start of today's match!

KICKOFF! We are underway at the King Power Stadium!

Mutch is making his first start for Palace today and he has the first chance of the match. He is well picked out on the edge of the box from a corner, but he can't quite get the contact he wants on the ball and puts his volley wide of the post.

The visitors are seeing plenty of the ball in the opening minutes and they are playing it around nicely between their midfielders. We are still yet to see either keep forced into a save, with both defences relatively untroubled so far.

Palace are still dominating and they are starting to give the Leicester defence a lot to think about. They have a lot of pace going forward and Zaha shows a glimpse of what he can do when his drilled effort is blocked by Morgan.

YELLOW CARD: The first booking of the match is handed out to Schlupp inside the opening 10 minutes. It's well deserved too, as he goes in with a crunching late challenge on Puncheon that leaves the Palace man on the deck.

Leicester haven't shown too many signs of danger, but they win a corner when Ulloa sees his shot deflect behind. From the resulting set piece Mahrez is able to get a touch, but his attempt ends up going high over the bar.

It's fair to say that this match is yet to really spark into life, but both teams are beginning to find space in behind. The lack of quality in the final third is summed up by this latest chance for Nugent, who is found in plenty of space by Mahrez, before chipping a poor effort over the bar.

Nugent's effort on goal was poor moments ago, but this is probably even worse from Puncheon. The ball drops to him kindly at the back post following a great run from Zaha, but after shifting the ball onto his left foot, he blazes it high and very wide.

Palace can consider themselves unlucky here as the flag goes up against Mutch once he had broken through down the left. It looked like he was onside as he broke and squared the ball for Zaha to fire over, but it is a further warning to the Foxes.

Leicester's best chance of scoring this afternoon seems to be from a set piece. They have caused Palace a lot of problems from corners and Morgan is the latest to come close with a towering header that is directed straight at the keeper.

CHANCE! Mahrez has been a real threat for the hosts and he bursts past Kelly on the right, before drilling in a low strike that is palmed away by Speroni. The ball then drops to Ulloa, but a host of defenders get back to block the striker's follow up.

OFF THE BAR! What was I just saying about Leicester scoring from a set piece? They are so close to opening the deadlock here, as Mahrez's corner is met by Nugent, but his powerful header comes back off the bar!

Mahrez has been the player that has impressed me the most in this first half. There is no signs of tiredness following his spell at the Africa Cup of Nations for Algeria and all of his teams best moves are coming through him.

YELLOW CARD! Simpson has been given some problems by Zaha in this match and the defender brings down the former Man Utd player on the halfway line, as he looked to break clear. He is shown a yellow card and is fortunate that there were plenty of defenders back to cover.

CHANCE! Leicester will be cursing their luck if they go into the break without scoring, as they create another great chance here. Ulloa is the creator, as he gets free down the right and stands up a decent ball for Schlupp at the back post. The Ghanian then takes a touch, before drilling in a low strike, but once again Speroni is there to make the block.

For all of Leicester's threat from set pieces, they almost concede from a corner when the ball lands kindly for Mutch. He sees his shot blocked, but the rebound drops to McArthur, who smashes an effort well over the top.

CHANCE! Palace are ending the half strongly and they have another chance when Dann meets a corner at the back post. He gets in a header which looks as if it takes a deflection before hitting the side netting, but the referee signals for a goal kick.

Palace look as if they have a problem here, as Dann is down and receiving treatment from the medical staff. There was a clash of heads with Morgan, so no risks will be taken if he has suffered concussion.

Thankfully Dann is back up on his feet and after a short moment on the sidelines he heads back out onto the pitch. Let's hope that he will be fine to continue for the rest of the match, as he is a big player in the Palace defence.

We are going to have three minutes of stoppage time at the end of this first half.

HALF-TIME: Leicester City 0-0 Crystal Palace

So, the half time whistle goes and it's still goalless between Leicester and Crystal Palace. The hosts have probably had the better chances and they will feel that they should be in the lead at this point.

It's fair to say that Leicester have been on top and they have seen much more of the ball, with 59% of the possession. They have also had 10 attempts on goal, while Palace have had seven efforts without managing to find the target.

I mentioned earlier that Mahrez has been the best player for the hosts and he looks dangerous every time he is on the ball. He saw a good shot saved by the keeper, before delivering the corner that Nugent hit the bar from. If we are to see a goal this afternoon, I feel that he will have a big part to play in it.

Palace take the kick off and get the second half started!

DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION: I can tell you that there have been a couple of changes made by the visitors at the break. Hangeland is on for Dann, wile Sanogo replaces Mutch.

Palace have made a decent start to the half and they have had a couple of efforts on goal. Sanogo nearly makes an early impact when he drills a shot into the side netting, before Delaney heads a free kick over, although the flag was raised for offside against the defender.

CHANCE! The Foxes pose a threat for the first time since the break, as Konchesky sees his cross take a deflection, with Speroni having to palm the ball clear. It then falls kindly to Nugent, who looks to guide a low effort into the far corner, but he ends up driving the ball just wide.

GOAL! Leicester City 0-1 Crystal Palace (Joe Ledley)

Palace have broken the deadlock with their first effort on target this afternoon! Sanogo did brilliantly to win a corner and the resulting set piece was then headed back across the box by Hangeland, before Ledley nodded in from close range to give his side the lead.

CHANCE! Having just given Palace the lead, Ledley puts his team all sorts of danger when he loses the ball inside the box to Nugent. The striker then rounds the keeper and pulls the ball back to Cambiasso, but the Argentine is unable to sort out his feet in time to get a shot away and the chance goes to waste.

That goal seems to have knocked the stuffing out of Leicester, who will be wondering how they weren't already ahead. They just need to regain their composure, as there is still plenty of time to pull a goal back in this game.

Sanogo has been a bit of a handful for the Leicester defence since coming on. His final touch may still let him down, but his strength and power is causing the home side all manner of problems at the moment.

SUBSTITUTION: The Foxes are making their first change of the match, with Albrighton coming on for Schlupp.

The fans are starting to get frustrated and every time that Leicester play the ball back instead of pushing forward, boos rings out around the stadium. The Foxes really haven't been as much of a threat this half and they are going through the motions at the moment.

CHANCE! This would have been a great goal from Puncheon. The winger collects a loose ball just outside the box, before working it onto his left foot and bending in a strike looking for the far corner. It ends up heading inches wide of the post, but Schwarzer looked like he was well beaten there.

SUBSTITUTION: Leicester's record singing Kramaric is coming on, with Nugent the man to make way.

It just doesn't look like it's going to happen for Leicester at the moment. Their build up play is slightly laboured and the final pass keeps letting them down. They need to really go for it now and get more players into the box than they have managed so far in this second half.

SHOT! Ulloa gives the ball away cheaply and it allows Gayle the chance to try and spring clear. He charges through the middle, but is being closed down as he gets to the edge of the box. By the time he gets his shot away, there is plenty of men around him and he drills the ball straight into the keeper's arms.

SUBSTITUTION: Palace make their final change, with Guedioura coming on for Gayle.

SUBSTITUTION: The hosts are also going to make a change, with Vardy coming on for Simpson.

YELLOW CARD! In the midst of those recent substitutions, Ulloa was booked for a foul on Guedioura and now Kelly is booked for the visitors for fouling Albrighton.

CHANCE! Leicester almost draw level as Vardy meets a free kick from Mahrez at the front post, but his header is brilliantly saved by Speroni.

SHOT! James it the next player to threaten for the hosts, as the ball drops kindly to him on the edge of the box, but he can only direct his effort wide of the far post. This is much better from the Foxes now though.

SAVE! Speroni made a great save to deny Vardy a few moments ago and he does exactly the same here. The striker was slipped in by Mahrez and fired in a strike towards the near post, but the keeper stood tall and pushed the ball behind.

We are going to have four minutes of stoppage time.

Konchesky fires in a strike from range, but it lacks any power and heads straight through to the keeper. It looks like Palace are going to win this match now, with the home side seemingly all out of ideas.

FULL-TIME: Leicester City 0-1 Crystal Palace

It's all over here at the King Power Stadium and it's Crystal Palace who claim the three points. They have now moved six points clear of the bottom three, but for the home side their struggles continue, as they are three points adrift at the bottom.

That's all from me, but we've got more live coverage for you throughout the weekend. Until next time, goodbye!

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Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson looks on ahead of the Championship playoff semi-final against Watford on May 9, 2013
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6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton94411612416
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15Leicester CityLeicester92341317-49
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17Crystal Palace9135611-56
18Ipswich TownIpswich9045920-114
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves90271225-132
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