Fortune Doesn't Favour the Foxes

Matty James holds his head as David Nugent pleads with the referee (Leicester Mercury)

Leicester City's luckless Premier League season continued in a hard fought 4-3 away defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

Nigel Pearson had previously hinted at personnel changes after Leicester's 0-0 result at home against Hull City and he made three changes to his side. A fit Kasper Schemichel replaced Mark Schwarzer, David Nugent was in for Riyad Mahrez and Leonardo Ulloa got the nod ahead of Andrej Kramaric, in the team's 3-4-3 formation.

The back three of Wes Morgan, Robert Huth and Matthew Upson started the game too narrow in the box after playing several games with five in defence and Tottenham were able to pounce. 

An early Spurs corner was parried by Schmeichel into the path of Harry Kane for an easy tap in six minutes into the match. Spurs were 2-0 after 13 minutes when a burst down Leicester's left flank, brought a cross to Kane who was able to convert after a heavy deflection off Huth. TV replays from behind the goal suggested Kane's shot was going wide and he was lucky to be credited with the goal and not Huth.

Leicester have often found themselves fighting from behind this season and time was on their side to mount a comeback. Nugent had earlier shown promise after nearly catching Spurs substitute keeper Michael Vorm off his line and dragged a shot across Vorm's goal from a tight angle. Jamie Vardy linked up with Nugent after 38 minutes to convert a nicely timed Nugent cross to get Leicester back in the game going into half time.

Leicester captain Wes Morgan heads his team level (Getty Images)

The teams were level when Morgan headed in a Leicester corner after 50 minutes and the Foxes pushed to take a second half lead. The pivotal moment of the game happened 64 minutes into the match when Kane completed his hat-trick by converting a dubious penalty.

Nugent was defending in his penalty box when Danny Rose ran into the back of him. Rose went down in the box and referee Mike Dean took time to consider his decision and awarded the penalty.

Pearson later told the BBC that he was bemused, annoyed and frustrated by Dean's decision and "arrogance." The penalty was the latest in a season of referring decisions that haven't gone Leicester's way and Ulloa would have felt aggrieved not to have a penalty himself after being slapped around the face by Nabil Bentaleb when the two tussled for a corner.

Leicester pressed for the equaliser and allowed Christian Eriksen in on goal against Schmeichel. Leicester's luckless afternoon was sealed when Schmeichel's save ricocheted off Jeff Schlupp into the net for an own goal 5 minutes before the end.

Wes Morgan and Leonardo Ulloa feel the strain of another defeat (Leicester Mercury)

Nugent gave Leicester some hope with a fine strike late on but the Foxes left White Hart Lane without any points and seven away from safety. 

Kane's hat-trick on the same week as his first England call-up may have got the national headlines but there was more to the story at White Hart Lane.  

Pearson's men played a much more attacking game than against Hull and this was due to starting both Vardy and Nugent up front. Leicester go into the two-week international break not taking advantage of the teams around them losing at the weekend and one game less to make the Great Escape.