Swansea City 1 Leicester City 2: Mahrez shines as Appleton enjoys winning start

Riyad Mahrez set up both Leicester City's goals to help the visitor beat Swansea City for its first Premier League win since August 19.

Published : Oct 21, 2017 22:11 IST

Leon Britton battles with Shinji Okazaki in the EPL fixture between Leicester City and Swansea on Saturday.
Leon Britton battles with Shinji Okazaki in the EPL fixture between Leicester City and Swansea on Saturday.
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Leon Britton battles with Shinji Okazaki in the EPL fixture between Leicester City and Swansea on Saturday.

Riyad Mahrez shone as Leicester City responded to the midweek sacking of manager Craig Shakespeare with a first win in seven Premier League games as it triumphed 2-1 at Swansea City.

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Under the stewardship of Michael Appleton, who was placed in temporary charge following Shakepeare's departure on Tuesday, the visitor picked up three points to move out of the relegation zone on Saturday.

Read: Appleton still happy in caretaker role after Leicester sinks Swansea

A rejuvenated Mahrez was directly involved in Leicester's goals at the Liberty Stadium, sending in the cross that led to Federico Fernandez heading into his own net in the 25th minute for the opener.

Shinji Okazaki doubled the lead with a close-range finish from Mahrez's cushioned pass early in the second half, although Leicester's two-goal advantage didn't last for long.

Alfie Mawson's volleyed finish on the turn in the 56th minute gave Swansea hope, but Paul Clement's side could not find an equaliser and has now lost four of its five home league outings this season.

Appleton – whose last match in full charge of a team was Oxford United's 2-0 win over Shrewsbury Town in League One back in April – made just one change from the side Shakespeare picked for Monday's 1-1 draw with West Brom, recalling Okazaki up front.

The Japan international was at the heart of the visitor's positive start too, his header from Marc Albrighton's cross testing Lukasz Fabianski inside the opening minute.

Swansea needed its goalkeeper to spare it again when the Leicester pair reversed roles, Okazaki this time with the delivery for his team-mate to unleash a first-time drive that, fortunately for Fabianski, was aimed straight at him.

Jamie Vardy also sent in a long-range drive that needed tipping over before Swansea helped out their opponent by putting the ball beyond the Pole in the home goal.

Having done well to keep Okazaki's long ball in play on the left, Mahrez whipped over a cross that Fernandez nodded into his own net despite being under little pressure.

The Algerian winger set up Leicester's second four minutes after the restart when he broke beyond Swansea's offside trap and teed up Okazaki, who just about bundled home.

Conceding on the counter-attack was a sucker punch for Swansea, although it quickly recovered from the blow to halve the deficit.

A scuffed corner from Renato Sanches posed little threat until Jordan Ayew flicked on at the front post, allowing Mawson to swivel and find the far corner of Kasper Schmeichel's net.

Swansea tried in vain to find an equaliser, substitute Wayne Routledge the closest to scoring with a low drive that only hit the side-netting.

However, Leicester held firm through to the final whistle to secure a victory that ends a difficult week on a high.

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