Kanoute strike sinks Leicester

Leicester 1 Tottenham 2

Frederic Kanoute struck a last-minute winner as Tottenham came from behind to grab victory at the Walkers Stadium.

Kanoute rammed home the rebound in the dying seconds after substitute Stephane Dalmat’s curling shot had struck the base of Ian Walker’s post.

But three minutes into injury-time Spurs’ matchwinner was worryingly stretchered off the pitch following a bad challenge which earned Muzzy Izzet a booking.

Spurs had been handed a sensational lifeline by South African Mbulelo Mabizela just four minutes into his Premiership debut.

Mabizela replaced Gustavo Poyet in the 74th minute when David Pleat, acting as caretaker manager following Glenn Hoddle’s departure, was heading for his first defeat in charge.

But moments later he had conjured up a sensational 25-yard rocket shot which crashed past Walker into the roof of the net.

The visitors’ chances had looked grim in a first-half highlighted by keeper Kasey Keller’s dreadful error which gave his former team the lead.

Walker’s long goal-kick was flicked on by Les Ferdinand and Paul Dickov turned and shot, only for Keller to let the ball slip through his legs.

It was the least Leicester deserved for their spell of first-half pressure - but Spurs’ dominant period after the break ultimately proved decisive.

City remain at the bottom of the table – but they had started brightly in a bid to put things right.

Izzet tested Keller in the second minute with a right-footed shot which the keeper parried.

And James Scowcroft headed narrowly wide from John Curtis’ right-wing cross three minutes later.

Spurs were looking sluggish and their only early chance of any note fell to Paul Konchesky, who charged down a clearance by Curtis but saw his shot saved by former Spurs keeper Walker at a stretch.

Another former Tottenham man Les Ferdinand was looking lively in his first home start since the opening day of the season and he tested Keller in the 13th minute.

He was unlucky to be ruled offside after racing clear onto a Gerry Taggart through-ball as the Foxes made a mockery of their lowly league position.

Robbie Keane hit an overhead kick over Walker’s bar during a rare foray forward for Tottenham.

Alan Rogers was close from long-range for Leicester then he almost sent Dickov clear before City’s bizarre opener.

Walker’s long goal-kick was flicked on by Ferdinand to Dickov on the left side of the Spurs penalty area.

Dickov’s left-footed shot lacked power but squirmed through Keller’s legs for the first goal conceded under Pleat.

Scowcroft headed just wide for Leicester at the start of the second half but Spurs, with the influential Dalmat having replaced Rohan Ricketts, gradually began to assert their control over the proceedings.

Keane hit a looping shot onto the roof of Walker’s net and Keith Gillespie’s bad back pass forced his keeper to save at a stretch.

But Keller was still not entirely convincing and needed two attempts to save Dickov’s rising effort just before the hour.

Kanoute headed over Walker’s bar in the 69th minute from Bobby Zamora’s cross before Mabizela’s sensational intervention.

Fellow substitute Zamora made great progress down the left and played the ball across to the South African who whacked a goal of the season contender past Walker.

Spurs scented blood and poured forward, with Dalmat’s sweet curling shot past Walker in the last minute setting up the winner as it struck the base of Walker’s right-hand post and rebounded.

Kanoute rammed the ball home from close to the penalty spot but his day was destined to end badly as he was the victim of Izzet’s rash challenge deep into injury-time which left him leaving the field on a stretcher.