Manchester City made it seven straight victories and kept the pressure on Premier League leaders Chelsea as Frank Lampard's first-half goal secured a 1-0 win at lowly Leicester City on Saturday. Manuel Pellegrini's side were far from their clinical best at the King Power Stadium, but the winner from former Chelsea midfielder Lampard ensured the champions remain just three points behind his old club.
There was a significant blow for City however as captain Vincent Kompany, who had returned after a hamstring problem, was forced off with a recurrence of the same injury. To make matters worse, City - who were already without Sergio Aguero due to a knee injury - lost another striker in the warm-up with Edin Dzeko pulling out to be replaced by youngster Jose Angel Pozo.
It was the bottom-of-the-table Leicester who had started the better with Esteban Cambiasso slicing off target after a driving run and Jamie Vardy having a shot deflected wide off Eliaquim Mangala. An audacious 35-yard free kick from Cambiasso came close to catching out Joe Hart as Leicester dominated. It took until the half-hour mark for City's first chance when Pozo shot straight at Ben Hamer from the edge of the area after David Silva's free-kick had only been half-cleared. Moments later Hamer, in the side for the injured Kasper Schmeichel, made a decent stop to keep out a Yaya Toure drive from Silva's pullback. Pellegrini's side were improving and went on to take the lead in the 40th minutes.
A patient build-up resulted in Samir Nasri crossing for Lampard to coolly flick home from six yards out. It was the former England international's sixth goal in 13 games since moving to Eastlands on loan from New York City. City nearly made it two early in the second half when Silva's flicked shot just missed the target from Nasri's cross. Lampard was withdrawn on the hour to be replaced by James Milner, while Leicester manager Nigel Pearson took off Jeffrey Schlupp and sent on top scorer Leonardo Ulloa in a bid to spark his team into life.
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