Reuters
London, March 6: Leicester City’s unlikely Premier League title challenge took another major upturn Saturday with a gritty 1-0 win at Watford as their closest challengers – Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur – cancelled each other out earlier in the day .
Riyad Mahrez conjured a fine goal to see off Watford and send Leicester five points clear at the top after second-placed Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, who are third, drew 2-2 at White Hart Lane.
“It was an important win, a big battle,” Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri told the ‘BBC’. “Now there will be battles for everybody not just for us. It was a tough match. We created four or five chances, they created two or three. We are so happy now.”
With nine games remaining, bookmakers cut the odds on Leicester winning their first top-flight crown to 11-10. “The title is not ours. We have to fight a lot, step by step and keep our feet on the ground. At the end we can see what happens,” Ranieri informed.
Algerian Mahrez scored his 15th league goal of the season following a sweet strike from the edge of the penalty area in the 56th minute before being substituted. Ranieri, though, played down concerns about the inspirational forward’s fitness.
“No injury, he was tired and had a little cramp so I changed him in the late minutes,” the Italian said. “His goal was so important.”
Leicester next host Newcastle United, March 14 before a trip to Crystal Palace.
