LONDON (Agencies): Anis Mehmeti’s second-half stunner piled more misery on Championship title-chasers Leicester City as they lost 1-0 to Bristol City.
Ex-England striker Jamie Vardy wasted two huge chances for the visitors as they missed their opportunity to move back to the top of the table.
The home side had two strong penalty shouts waved away in the first half as the teams went in goalless at the break.
But Mehmeti’s first home goal this year, rifled past Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, was enough to give the home side all three points.
Leicester, who have now lost four of their past six league games, remain level with table toppers Leeds and one point ahead of Ipswich, with both teams playing later.
Much of the build-up to the game had focused on the away side’s Premier League and EFL charges, as well as the announcement they would take legal action against the leagues.
The Robins dominated the first half and forced a double save from Hermansen, through the lively Tommy Conway and then Scott Twine’s rebound.
Hamza Choudhury then hauled Rob Dickie to the ground in the box with his eyes focused on the player before Wout Faes appeared to tug the shorts of Conway right on the edge of the area but referee Andrew Kitchen waved both shouts away.
Faes almost riled the home fans further as he headed wide from a Harry Winks free-kick for the visitors, before Vardy grazed the post with the Foxes hitting the home side on the break.
Vardy will wonder how he didn’t add to his 13 Championship goals in the second half when he was twice put clean through on goal.
Bristol City keeper Max O’Leary made himself big to save with his foot to deny the Leicester captain, before turning Stephy Mavididi’s rebound behind.
The second chance was even clearer, as Zak Vyner gifted the ball to Vardy in the area – but his split-second delay allowed O’Leary to get across and make a fantastic save to deny the striker again.
You could sense a goal was coming as Vardy stretched but couldn’t connect with a header and Abdul Fatawu’s curling effort went just wide.
But it was the hosts who would make the breakthrough with Mehmeti lashing his left-foot effort from the edge of the box past Choudhury and beyond Hermansen to give the home side the lead.
Substitute Mark Sykes almost immediately doubled the lead for the Robins, shooting low at goal but Hermansen just diverted it behind for a corner.
The Foxes almost drew level through former Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho, brought on for Vardy, as he dinked beautifully over the outrushing O’Leary into the net, but the assistant referee raised his flag and the home side kept the clean sheet to claim a massive win in front of their fans.
