Leicester City are on course to return to the top of the Premier League table after Jamie Vardy gave them a 1-0 lead at the halfway stage of their clash with Chelsea at the King Power Stadium this evening.

The first attempt of the game came from Riyad Mahrez within two minutes as the hosts started strongly, but the shot failed to trouble Thibaut Courtois.

The Blues had the chance to open the scoring through Eden Hazard shortly before the quarter-hour mark, but his effort was blocked after he had found space to take the ball down at the back post.

Claudio Ranieri was forced into making a substitution shortly after as Danny Drinkwater was replaced by Andy King due to a hamstring issue, while Chelsea lost a key player of their own to injury when Hazard was forced off following an innocuous clash with Vardy.

Mahrez had another failed crack at the Chelsea goal from the edge of the box 19 minutes in, but the Algerian turned provider for the opening goal on 34 minutes as league top-scorer Vardy latched on to his cross and volleyed home his 15th of the season.

The Blues attempted a retaliation immediately afterwards as Nemanja Matic headed just over following a corner, with the ball kissing the top of the crossbar on its way behind.

That was as close as the visitors came, however, and it was Leicester who threatened the game's second goal in the closing stages of the half when Marc Albrighton test Courtois at his near post.

The gap remained at one, however, leaving Chelsea on course for a ninth league defeat of the season.