Monday 25 April 2016 06:27, UK
Leicester moved eight points clear at the top of the Premier League following their 4-0 victory over Swansea at the King Power Stadium on Sunday.
Claudio Ranieri's men made light of the absence of top scorer Jamie Vardy with replacement Leonardo Ulloa scoring twice.
Ulloa was just one of the players to step up. Here, we pick out five men who made the difference without the team's star striker…
Riyad Mahrez
Mahrez had suffered a dip in form of late, having gone three games without directly contributing to a goal for only the second time this season. But this was the winger back to his best. "Sometimes I have to score," he acknowledged afterwards. And he did.
"Mahrez was magnificent, his whole performance from start to finish," Jamie Redknapp told Sky Sports. "Some of the things he does with a football are just unique." The moment that mattered came when he pounced on Ashley Williams' error to settle everyone's nerves.
But it was more than the goal; more, even, than the skills. "What he has also brought to his game is the ability to work for his team," added Redknapp. "He's bought into this team ethic." Only N'Golo Kante covered more ground than Mahrez on Sunday. It was exactly what was required.
Jeffrey Schlupp
In his post-match interview with Sky Sports, Ranieri set the scene. "I told Jeff, 'Now I need you. You are our strength. You are so powerful.' And he made another good match." Indeed, Jeffrey Schlupp was integral to Leicester's win.
"He was brilliant with his pace and running off the ball," said Redknapp. "He was a great outlet." The Ghanaian was clocked at 33.6 kilometres per hour - the fastest man on the pitch - and caused so many problems for Swansea full-back Angel Rangel.
In particular, there was the run for the third goal that killed the game as he set up Ulloa for the tap-in. This was Schlupp's first start since November but when he was needed by his manager and his team-mates he responded with a strong display.
Leonardo Ulloa
There was pressure on the big target-man going into this one as not everyone was convinced he could adequately replace Vardy. After all, his previous Premier League start had come in a goalless draw against 10-man Bournemouth in January.
"I feared for him a bit today but he coped with it admirably," said Redknapp. "You bring in players and you worry about the Vardy effect but Ulloa was magnificent." He walked away with his first brace of the season and the man-of-the-match award.
Demarai Gray
The January signing from Birmingham is yet to start a Premier League game but Ranieri has been keen to keep him involved in things - this was the 19-year-old's ninth appearance off the bench and another glimpse of the quality he can bring.
Gray beat both Williams and Jefferson Montero on the flank to set up the fourth goal as his shot was parried out to Marc Albrighton. With his first assist having come in his previous outing against Sunderland, it seems Gray is ready to make a real impact at just the right time.
Marc Albrighton
Of course, Kante covered the most ground (11.69 kilometres), Shinji Okazaki made the most sprints (86) and the defence kept another clean sheet. By comparison, Albrighton's brief cameo was insignificant. However, it was also symbolic.
Albrighton had not scored since the opening day of the season but came off the bench with eight minutes to go to net the fourth goal of the afternoon - and with his weaker foot. It summed it all up on a day that so many of this Leicester squad took the chance to give that little bit more.
Conclusion
"Every single Leicester player should win the PFA award," said Redknapp. "Every one of them has been a star this year." This was the sort of performance to hammer home that message as the star names and the fringe figures all helped to make a difference.
First the focus was on the key individuals. Then it was the familiar starting line-up that we all saw week in, week out. Now it's the whole squad in the spotlight. "Without Jamie, everyone gave something more," Ranieri told Sky Sports afterwards. Leicester are on the brink.
