Cardiff 0-1 Leicester: Foxes honour Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha with win

Leicester City honoured owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha with a victory as they beat Cardiff City 1-0 on an emotion-filled day at the Cardiff City Stadium.

There were tears and tributes ahead of kick-off to remember Srivaddhanaprabha and the four other people who were killed in a helicopter crash last weekend.

Victor Camarasa hit the bar for the visitors with a free-kick in the first half before Cardiff defender Sol Bamba escaped a red card for a goal-line save with his arm.

Leicester grew into the game and Demarai Gray scored the winner in the 55th minute, finishing from Ben Chilwell's cross and then taking off his shirt to reveal a top with the words 'For Khun Vichai' written across the front.

Cardiff were unable to rally and there were moving scenes after the final whistle as Leicester players, most of whom are travelling to Thailand after the match for Srivaddhanaprabha's funeral, stood in front of the away supporters and applauded for 10 minutes.

Some fans held up messages, while others struggled to hold back their emotions.

Leicester manager Claude Puel had said ahead of the match he wanted to find a "good balance between emotion and concentration", but it was emotion that ruled ahead of kick-off.

Players and supporters wore T-shirts honouring Srivaddhanaprabha and Cardiff fans passed a Thai flag with the crests of both clubs into the away end before an impeccably-observed minute's silence.

All of the Leicester players and staff stood on the centre circle for the minute's silence, with goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel appearing emotional and there were tears among the away supporters.

Considering the events off the pitch, it was little surprise that the first half was largely low key.

Camarasa hit the bar with a free-kick in the 31st minute, shortly after Harry Maguire had gone off with an injury.

Leicester improved as the half wore on and Wilfred Ndidi headed wide from a corner in the 37th minute.

However, the biggest talking point came in injury-time when Jamie Vardy's shot was tipped onto the bar by Bamba's outstretched arm.

Referee Lee Probert, whose view appeared to be blocked, waved away Leicester's strenuous appeals for a penalty.

But the Foxes did take the lead after the break when Chilwell crossed for Gray to finish from close to the penalty spot.

Gray was booked for his tribute to Srivaddhanaprabha, but only after impassioned celebrations from the Leicester players in front of their supporters.

Cardiff never really threatened to get back into the match and Leicester should have scored again as Jonny Evans missed a header from close range and Vardy was denied by Neil Etheridge late on.

Opta stats

Cardiff have enjoyed just one win in their last 15 Premier League games, drawing three and losing 11.
Leicester are the only side to score in each of their Premier League games this season (11 games).
Cardiff have failed to score in six Premier League games this season, a joint-divisional high along with Huddersfield and Southampton.
Leicester have won seven of their last nine Premier League games against promoted sides (D1 L1).
Leicester have won three of their last five Premier League away games (L2), as many victories as they had managed in their previous 12 on the road in the competition (D1 L8).
Demarai Gray has registered goal involvements in consecutive Premier League for only the second time ever (scoring v Cardiff and assisting v West Ham), and the first time since December 2017.

Man of the match - Demarai Gray

In a difficult game, it was Gray's moment of composure that proved the difference. The 22-year-old finished well from Chilwell's cross to secure victory and spark celebrations.

The managers

Claude Puel: "It was a difficult game to prepare and difficult to play. From the first minute to the last we kept out concentration and our desire and we played well. We deserve the result and it's a fantastic opportunity to honour our chairman and it was fantastic coming here with our fans and staff. Now it's just the first step and I hope we can manage the next week with the same feeling but it will be difficult because we have the funeral and come back in the middle of the week and then have to prepare for the game against Burnley, the first game at home."

Neil Warnock: "It was a strange afternoon. It has been all week, surreal almost. I'm disappointed with the result as I thought the lads gave everything. I thought we started well but one or two decisions didn't go our way. Just before the goal I thought there was a foul on [Josh] Murphy and he has been giving fouls like that all afternoon. The lads gave everything, it's just that bit of quality in the final third. It was never going to be a classic with the circumstances but I thought they did well and I can't fault the effort."