Leicester City

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Jamie Vardy has told his Leicester team-mates they must give their full backing to boss Ruud van Nistelrooy after their crucial win at Tottenham.

The striker scored his eighth goal of the season as the Foxes ended a run of seven straight defeats to climb out of the Premier League's relegation zone on Sunday.

Van Nistelrooy's side came from behind to win 2-1 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after Richarlison's first-half opener.

Vardy levelled immediately after the break before Bilal El Khannouss struck four minutes later to ease any growing pressure on Van Nistelrooy, who only replaced Steve Cooper in November.

"He has his own set way of playing and it's all about buying into it. You buy into it, then you get it working. It's not been that long we've been together," former England striker Vardy said.

"You go from one system, to another and then other. You have to stay focused on what the manager wants but to make sure we are all together, all on the same page. It doesn't matter as long as we are all backing each other.

"People are going to make mistakes in a game but you make that mistake knowing your team mates are behind you."

Leicester are 17th, a point above Wolves, and go to Everton - who are six points and a place above them - on Saturday.

Sunday's victory in north London was their first in the Premier League since beating West Ham 3-1 in Van Nistelrooy's opening game on 3 December.

"One thing we have done is: back to basics, keep it simple," Vardy told BBC Radio Leicester. "You could see the togetherness and making sure we all stand together as an 11 and the players coming on as well. It was deserved in the end.

"We know during the games previously we have played really well for 45 minutes and then the sucker punch of a goal and the heads go down slightly.

"The main thing from this week is we know we're good enough, we know we can play football but it's sticking together, not letting heads drop and making sure we're united."

Jamie Vardy was speaking to BBC Radio Leicester with the full interview on the latest When You're Smiling podcast.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Tottenham and Leicester City.

Here are some of your comments:

Spurs fans

Alan: Although owners ENIC and chairman Daniel Levy are primarily responsible for the running of the club and the lack of funds for players, Ange Postecoglou is responsible for coaching and motivating the players. He has time and again shown that he is out of his depth, insisting on one style of play no matter what. All good coaches have at least a plan B. Also, the amount of injuries is indicative of poor training regimes.

Sean: Results are just not good enough. Players don't seem to realise they are in a relegation battle on the form they are showing. I am surprised Levy hasn't sacked as usual, especially after the last two defeats.

Edward: You can not put blame on Ange, he's giving everything he can to defend the club. It's all Levy's fault we are in the trouble we are in. Under-investment and constant management changes have put our club in trouble and now we can all see why we are in the position that we are in. A change of chairman would be needed but unfortunately we all know who will carry the blame and that's poor Ange. The whole support of the club knows who's to blame.

Paresh: Unfortunately time is running out for Ange. I don't think there's a better replacement but Spurs need new ideas - sleeping at the wheel isn't good enough.

Kaden: I don't think you can blame Daniel Levy. He has invested the money, improved the business side and cares for the club. I think you have to blame the recruitment and the amount of poor signings such as Richy and Ndombele, who were both £60m. Ange can only do so much with the players he has.

Nick: I'm no fan of Levy but he's not on the pitch. He hasn't sent the team out. Look at the clubs above us challenging for Europe. You can't tell me that most of the players in our team today wouldn't walk into Bournemouth, Fulham, Forest. Ange has to go.

Leicester fans

Jon: I am shell-shocked! A fighting performance - which Leicester have been so lacking in recent games. It was fantastic that they got the equaliser so soon into the second half. They can savour the victory but as Ruud said, it's back to hard work next week.

Peter: Followed the match on Radio Leicester, great commentary by the match team. Wow what a match - I had a gut feeling we would win today. Goalkeeping was amazing, but I felt the whole team wanted it today so I'm not going to pick out individuals. It was a magnificent team effort. On to the next game with Everton now with much more confidence.

Nigel: Much better performance than recent weeks. We didn't mess around with the ball too much in defence. Still not perfect but a glimmer of hope. Let's take this forward to the next game. Well played the whole team.

Adam: Move on quickly Leicester, every game's a big game now. Soak up this feeling and get ready for Everton. Absolutely pointless win if you lose the next one. Consistency, consistency, consistency.

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy speaking to BBC Radio Leicester after the win at Tottenham: "I'm pleased for the team. It was an outstanding performance. Physically it was impressive. I thought from beginning to end, it was excellent.

"They were calm after they went 1-0 down. They kept on playing and doing the things we talked about. They turned the game around.

"We had to grind the result out. The centre backs did a fabulous job. It was the best I've seen our defensive shape today.

"I thought we were in the game in the first half. We wanted to start the second half well, especially after Palace and Fulham. We can do that again next time!

"The victory has the biggest psychological impact. We will move in and out of the relegation zone until the end of the season. It's a better feeling [sitting outside the relegation zone.]"

Leicester City and Bangladesh midfielder Hamza Choudhury, 27, is set to join Sheffield United on loan in a deal that includes an option to buy. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Highlights and analysis from Sunday's four Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.

Listen back to the weekend's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Wolves 0-1 Arsenal

• Man City 2-1 Chelsea

• Tottenham 1-2 Leicester

• Crystal Palace 1-2 Brentford

• Aston Villa 1-1 West Ham

A new episode of When You're Smiling is now available to listen to and download on BBC Sounds.

Get all the post-match reaction as Jack Rafferty is joined by former Leicester winger Matt Piper to analyse and discuss Sunday's huge 2-1 win away at Tottenham which took Ruud Van Nistelrooy's side out of the relegation zone.

Plus, hear from Foxes boss Van Nistelrooy after a first Premier League victory since his first game in charge on 3 December.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, speaking to BBC Sport: "The winning feeling we share in the dressing room together, the football we tried to play, the goals we scored. In the end it is a dramatic 10 minutes where we had to survive, players were putting their heads in to block shots and were winning tackles.

"They wanted this, we needed it and they lived up to it today. This team stuck together and is doing everything they possibly can to succeed.

"It was an explosive start to the second half! I saw the team calm, they felt they were in the game and reacted very well.

"There is of course relief and celebration in the dressing room. We were really looking for this moment and it took a long time, so now we can enjoy this for a day or two then it is back to work.

"As I said on my arrival this will go right to the end."

On the transfer market: "We are looking to strengthen the team within the possibilities of the club. The focus is on this team."

Image source, Getty Images

Jamie Vardy scored his 10th Premier League goal against Tottenham – only against their North London rivals Arsenal (11) has he scored more.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Tottenham's performance

What did you make of Leicester's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Four matches make up Sunday's Premier League action.

• Tottenham v Leicester - 14:00

• Crystal Palace v Brentford - 14:00

• Aston Villa v West Ham - 16:30

• Fulham v Man Utd - 19:00

All kick-off times GMT

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Tottenham have only picked up one point from their past six league games but that is still better than Leicester, who have now lost seven in a row.

Things are becoming increasingly desperate at Spurs, too. Ange Postecoglou seems to be getting a lot of backing from above, but this is an enormous game for him.

They are missing Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven at the back but there is still an argument that the players who have come in should be doing better than they are.

That's the way I feel anyway - I look at the Tottenham team and they should not be trailing by three goals, going on five or six, at half-time against Everton.

I think you can lose certain games as an under-pressure manager, but not others. I was worried for Postecoglou when Spurs went three goals down because of the pressure that losing to another struggling team would put on him.

The same applies here. Lose this and he's in deep trouble.

I love watching Ange's teams play, I have got a lot of time for him and he has been really unfortunate with a few things, but if Spurs are beaten at home by Leicester then things could get pretty ugly even if they are still in both domestic cups and the Europa League.

I don't think that will happen though. These two sides drew 1-1 on the opening day but this time I am backing Spurs to win comfortably.

Sutton's prediction: 4-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

When it comes to Premier League form, both Tottenham and Leicester are in the bottom three. The Foxes have lost seven consecutive league games, while Spurs are without a win in six.

With both teams in desperate need of three points, it sets up for an intriguing battle at Tottenham Hotspur stadium on Sunday.

While the two sides go head-to-head on the pitch, we asked our fan writers for each club to go head-to-head off it.

Each got to ask three questions of the other. Tottenham fan Anna Howells from Spurs XY, external was asked the following by our Leicester supporter:

• What has been the key reason for Spurs' inconsistency this season?

• Do you think Ange Postecoglou should stay or go?

• What is your Achilles heel? Where are most teams having the most success against you?

Leicester fan contributor Kate Blakemore from Leicester Till I Die, external was given the following questions:

• I am sure many Tottenham fans would like to know how the moves to Leicester have worked out for Harry Winks and Oliver Skipp?

• Are Leicester fans still happy with the appointment of Ruud van Nistelrooy?

• Apart from getting some wins (relatable for Spurs fans), what are the key issues that need to be solved if Leicester are to avoid relegation?

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It felt like Ruud Van Nistelrooy went out of his way to emphasise the unity at Leicester during his news conference on Friday.

That he was making the point and repeatedly using the phrase was even highlighted to the Foxes boss by the media.

Perhaps he lent on it too much but the message was clear: he needs his players to be behind him and each other to survive.

Van Nistelrooy said: "The relationship with players and managers and coaches is one of development, improvement and praise. Things which are done well are addressed, things which can be improved are addressed.

"We are united as a unit - as a squad and staff. I'm very motivated to change this situation. It's the only way to get out of a difficult situation. When you are in adversity, it's about unity, hard work and rolling up your sleeves."

There have been suggestions of heated discussions with players but what manager would not have them after seven straight defeats?

Van Nistelrooy has been in charge for just 56 days and he is already fielding questions about his position and whether there are fractures in the squad as his side sit second bottom in the Premier League.

That is no surprise amid their current form and they will equal a club record run of losses if they fall to an eighth straight defeat at Tottenham on Sunday.

Ultimately, Van Nistelrooy's words and calls for unity will be useless unless his side start to win.

Image source, Getty Images

There have been 130 goals in 35 Premier League meetings between Tottenham and Leicester, the highest goals-per-game ratio of any fixture to have been played at least 30 times (3.71).

Tyrese King
BBC Sport journalist

Leicester City boss Ruud van Nistelrooy has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Tottenham (kick-off 14:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On the club's transfer situation Van Nistelrooy said: "We are looking at options within the possibility to strengthen the squad, and also this deal with Tom [Cannon] is part of that situation. So we are addressing that, and are looking at players to strengthen the team within the possibilities that are there at the moment."

• On Leicester bad form he said: "We know where we are in the league but for the remaining games it's about getting out of this situation. Sunday is a new game where we can start fighting to get out of this period. This is when you need character, togetherness and unity. We are that."

• Asked about his own job security the Dutchman offered: "I'm focused on getting this team out of the situation, that's my only concern."

• He called for his side to "roll-up their sleeves".

• New signing Wayo Coulibaly could play a part against Tottenham after "a very good start to the week".

• He is hopeful that midfielder Wilfred Ndidi can be involved in team training next week but he will miss out on the upcoming game.

• Winger Abdul Fatawu is making "very good" progress but his manager added: "The steps he has to make, he's making them. But we also know the length of the injury, it isn't in the short term."

• Injured goalkeeper Mads Hermansen is "making good steps but needs to make further steps to be involved in team training and playing games".

Follow all of Leicester City's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Former Leicester City goalkeeper Mike Stowell told BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast that clubs hold each other to "ransom" in the January transfer window.

" I always think that the January transfer window is the last-gasp saloon window for many clubs," Stowell said.

"You're always held to ransom because if you go after players, everybody knows that you're desperate. They are not going to give you their better players, they want to keep their good players for the push. They are going to give you players you don't want, or you're selling average players for more money because teams are desperate for new recruits."

Stowell also believes that the window is "only good" if you're a team "fighting for the title" or if you have "some money" and "want to recruit some extra firepower or quality".

"At the other end of the table, I'm afraid it rarely ever works," he added.

"I don't want to be all doom and gloom but Leicester City two years ago brought in Victor Kristiansen, Harry Souttar and Tete. We went to Aston Villa thinking we solved the problem with three new signings, and we know how that went."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Serie A club Lecce are among the clubs to have enquired about signing Leicester City winger Laolu Omobolaji.

The Foxes are believed to be keen on tying down the 17-year-old, who is a regular for the under-18s, to a new deal.

Omobolaji joined Leicester in February last year. He is eligible to play for both England and Nigeria through his parents.

This Premier League pursuit becomes a lot easier if you take your chances.

BBC Sport has checked in on some data comparing goals versus expected goals this season.

You can see from the bar graph some teams aren't finding the goals (yellow) to outstrip the expected goals they should score (black).

Tottenham, Manchester City, Arsenal, Brentford, Newcastle, Brighton, Fulham, Nottingham Forest, Wolves and Leicester have all scored more than expected.

Wolves in particular have found the net 32 times from an expected 23.56 - a significant overperformance.

League leaders Liverpool are pretty much bang on in returning what they should, while Arsenal have outperformed, with 43 goals from an expected 37.78.

Bournemouth - 36 goals from an expected 43 - are leaving opportunities on the table.

Former Leicester City winger Marc Albrighton tells The Football News Show how senior players like Jamie Vardy and Conor Coady will be leading the inquest into their recent run of poor form in the Premier League.

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer