EPL: Watford 2-1 Leicester
Kasper Schmeichel's own goal
Watford picked up a first win in seven games after coming from behind to earn a 2-1 victory over Leicester at Vicarage Road on Boxing Day.
Leicester took the lead through Riyad Mahrez after 37 minutes, before Molla Wague scored on his first Premier League start, against the club where he spent time on loan last season, to equalise on the stroke of half time.
Watford built on the momentum generated from that equaliser after the break, and went ahead in the 65ht minute when Abdoulaye Doucoure's effort was diverted into his own net by Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
Heurelho Gomes had to be at his best to preserve the lead, but Watford held on to end a run of four successive defeats at the expense of a Leicester side who failed to build on their last-gasp draw against Manchester United last time out. Watford stay 10th, while Leicester remain in eighth despite the defeat.
After a sluggish start to the game, the visitors upped the tempo, and Jamie Vardy really should have put the Foxes in front, but finished poorly when clean through on goal.
However, the pressure told as Leicester did take the lead through Mahrez. Marc Albrighton worked space for a cross to the back post, where the Algeria international was on hand to head home.
Richarlison should have equalised but could only find the side-netting after rounding Schmeichel, but the hosts did draw level shortly after.
The Leicester defence could not deal with Tom Cleverley's corner and while Richarlison was unable to steer the ball home, Wague was on hand to net his first goal in English football.
Richarlison was then in thick of it once more immediately after the equaliser, and could have completed a dramatic turnaround, but his strike thundered out off the post after being picked out by an intricate Cleverley pass.
Claude Puel says Leicester didn’t have a bad game despite losing 2-1 to Watford but was critical of his side’s defending at free kicks.
After the break, Watford continued on the front foot, and took the lead 20 minutes into the second half. Cleverley's free-kick was deep and Doucoure steered the ball back across the goal line. Schmeichel tried to keep it out, but inadvertently nudged the ball over the line, with goal-line technology confirming it had crossed.
Gomes then produced two stunning stops to ensure the hosts held on. First he bravely flung himself at Wes Morgan's strike to block, before diverting Leonardo Ulloa's header around the post.
Watford built on the momentum generated from that equaliser after the break, and went ahead in the 65ht minute when Abdoulaye Doucoure's effort was diverted into his own net by Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
Heurelho Gomes had to be at his best to preserve the lead, but Watford held on to end a run of four successive defeats at the expense of a Leicester side who failed to build on their last-gasp draw against Manchester United last time out. Watford stay 10th, while Leicester remain in eighth despite the defeat.
After a sluggish start to the game, the visitors upped the tempo, and Jamie Vardy really should have put the Foxes in front, but finished poorly when clean through on goal.
However, the pressure told as Leicester did take the lead through Mahrez. Marc Albrighton worked space for a cross to the back post, where the Algeria international was on hand to head home.
Richarlison should have equalised but could only find the side-netting after rounding Schmeichel, but the hosts did draw level shortly after.
The Leicester defence could not deal with Tom Cleverley's corner and while Richarlison was unable to steer the ball home, Wague was on hand to net his first goal in English football.
Richarlison was then in thick of it once more immediately after the equaliser, and could have completed a dramatic turnaround, but his strike thundered out off the post after being picked out by an intricate Cleverley pass.
Claude Puel says Leicester didn’t have a bad game despite losing 2-1 to Watford but was critical of his side’s defending at free kicks.
After the break, Watford continued on the front foot, and took the lead 20 minutes into the second half. Cleverley's free-kick was deep and Doucoure steered the ball back across the goal line. Schmeichel tried to keep it out, but inadvertently nudged the ball over the line, with goal-line technology confirming it had crossed.
Gomes then produced two stunning stops to ensure the hosts held on. First he bravely flung himself at Wes Morgan's strike to block, before diverting Leonardo Ulloa's header around the post.