BRIGHTON 0 LEICESTER CITY 2

I’m not a great one for stats but there is one that says it all about this match – Brighton did not manage one shot on goal.

For the first half the Seagulls held out redoubtedly in a performance that was more Chris Hughton than Graham Potter. Just as we were applying more pressure at the start of the second half Leicester scored on the breakaway, Perez converting Vardy’s perfect cross.

There was then controversy. The Foxes were awarded a somewhat fortuitous penalty which Matt Ryan saved. James Maddison then headed in the rebound but as there was encroachment by both a Brighton player and Maddison it was overruled.

Referee Mike Dean ordered a re-take which Vardy converted for his twelfth of the season. A few points here: even my astute neighbour, who follows the game well and picked up the on the dual encroachment, could not understand why there was a retake. VAR is now overruling fairly minor infringements that for years passed unnoticed.

Finally the crowd needs more info on what is happening.

To be fair Leicester thoroughly deserved their win. I can see why they are second.

They survived the death of their owner, bought intelligently as with Caglar Soyuncu, a Turkish defender acquired from Freiburg, who looks a ready made replacement for Harry Maguire, James Maddison and Ben Chilwell are international quality, as is Vardy with his searing pace and poacher’s eye.

As for Brighton next week we go to Liverpool and Spurs and Arsenal over the festive period. Lewis Dunk was suspended for this game so we will be grateful for his return plus striker Aaron Connolly and forward Trossard and defender Webster got through 90 minutes after injury but – as I said to my neighbour – it’s only a question of time before Brighton and their ilk get relegated.