Chelsea moved back into the Premier League top four as Marc Cucurella’s second-half strike sealed a scrappy win against Leicester City at Stamford Bridge.
It was the Spain left-back’s fifth goal of the season – and second in successive league games after netting against Southampton.
Cucurella’s crucial goal came on the hour mark, beating visiting keeper Mads Hermansen with a left-footed effort from 25 yards.
Chelsea had been frustrated until then, with Hermansen saving Cole Palmer’s penalty midway through the first half following a trip on Jadon Sancho by Victor Kristiansen.
The miss ended Palmer’s 100% record from the spot – having scored his previous 12 – and prolonged the playmaker’s goalless run to nine matches in all competitions.
Leicester impressed during the first half and came close to opening the scoring in bizarre circumstances when Blues defender Tosin Adarabioyo headed against his own crossbar.
But that was as close as the Foxes came, with Enzo Maresca’s men improving after the break and claim the winner to leapfrog Manchester City and take a two-point advantage over the reigning champions.
Defeat for Leicester left them second bottom in the table, behind 18th-placed Ipswich on goal difference and six points adrift of Wolves in 17th.
