Leicester boosted their Premier League survival chances after fighting back to beat Wolves in Dean Smith’s first home game in charge.
Timothy Castagne’s goal 15 minutes from time secured the three points for the Foxes which lifts them out of the relegation zone on goal difference.
Wolves had gone in front after 13 minutes when Youri Tielemens was caught in possession inside his own half, allowing Matheus Cunha to drive forward and finish from the edge of the box.
The goal shook Leicester, who had started brightly, but they were offered a way back into the game when Jamie Vardy went around Jose Sa and was brought down by the Wolves goalkeeper.
Kelechi Iheanacho coolly dispatched the penalty and Leicester regained the upper hand before half-time.
It was a more even contest after the break but the home side always looked the more likely and found the decisive goal thanks to some nice interplay down the left to free Victor Kristiansen and the full-back’s cut-back was smartly finished by Castagne.
Julen Lopetegui’s Wolves came close to an equaliser when Ruben Neves’ free-kick was tipped over the bar by Leicester keeper Daniel Iversen but the Foxes held on for a precious win.
Leicester are up to 17th while Wolves stay 13th, six points clear of the drop zone.
Leicester give fans something to shout about
The noise from the home fans at the King Power at full-time was proof Smith had delivered on his promise before the game to give them something to shout about.
It was a different sort of noise half an hour into the game as the crowd voiced their frustrations at a nervy showing from the hosts, who were without James Maddison due to a sickness bug.
There had been few signs of such tension in the opening five minutes as Leicester moved the ball quickly and should have gone in front when Vardy, released down the left channel by Iheanacho, opted to pass with only Sa to beat and Tete’s shot was blocked by Toti.
Wolves soon settled, though, and Leicester, perhaps spooked as much by the nature of it as much as the goal itself, appeared to lose all confidence.
But a swift counter-attack and Sa’s inadvertent trip of Vardy changed the game – even if it did likely result in the striker’s half-time substitution.
Iheanacho made no mistake from the spot and suddenly Leicester’s belief returned.
They were nearly in front at half-time but Sa clawed Iheanacho’s curling effort away and recovered quickly to thwart Patson Daka on the follow-up.
Sa had to be alert to save from Daka again in the second half before Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall blazed the rebound over.
There was a sharpness to some of Leicester’s play that had deserted them for much of the opening 45 minutes and that was in evidence with the winning goal as Daka and Boubakary Soumare combined to set Kristiansen away to set up Castagne.
With six games to go and their top-flight status on the line, results are far more important than performances but Leicester’s showing from the equaliser onwards will give Smith hope his team can keep the supporters shouting all their way to safety in the coming weeks.
