Leicester took a giant leap towards the Promised Land of the Premier League by swatting away their closest challengers.

Burnley were what they are in the table – decidedly second best – and only a calamitous dip in form can now deny Nigel Pearson’s side making up for last season’s play-off heartache.

The contest was never as spicy as expected with Premier League referee Chris Foy keeping his cards in his pocket and Burnley suffering the 7th minute withdrawal of 21-goal Sam Vokes which necessitated a change of formation and tactics.

Manager Sean Dyche admitted the switch unhinged his plans and must pray that the injury is not too serious and that the even more prolific Danny Ings (25 goals) will be available again in 10 days as predicted having missed the last four games with an ankle injury.

The Leicester boss who checked himself into hospital when he felt unwell a week ago looked perky enough as his club’s 3,000 travelling fans chanted his name and will have thought the early morning calls were well worthwhile as they saw their side pull six points clear with a game in hand – at Wigan on Tuesday.

It’s 10 years since the Foxes last graced the Premier League but they are surely destined to return on the back of a club record run of 19 matches unbeaten – and counting.

This was Burnley’s first defeat in 17 in the Championship but it was always on the cards once their visitors sneaked in front within seconds of Chris Wood replacing the injured Jamie Vardy who could be out for a few weeks with a groin injury.

With his first touch the New Zealand international set up what Pearson described as ‘a typical Kevin Nugent goal’ stroked in stylishly from the edge of the box.

Wood, who has had to wait his turn because of the fruitful Nugent-Vardy partnership did even better with the killer second goal. He had a lot to do after contesting Anthony Knockaert’s long ball with Michael Duff but muscled the Irishman away and then exploded his right foot shot into the roof of the net.

Pearson was delighted with his sides dominance: ‘At this stage of the season the pressure is on for results and to deal with the big occasion so this was a crucial three points.’

Praising Nugent he said: ‘He’s capable of scoring a goal even when he’s having a quiet game. He tends to score important goals.’

Of Wood he added: ‘He’s had a difficult season after the instant impact he made with goals last season, but although there are unhappy players on the bench I’m delighted they all buy into the team ethic – and Chris took his chance today.’

Dyche told his disappointed players: ‘Hang on a minute that is the best team in the league you’ve lost to.’

He felt the big decisions went against his side that Wood fouled Duff before scoring and that they should have had a penalty for a handball,

Vokes has a knee injury that will be assessed over the next 24 hours but Dyche is just keen to get on with clinching the second automatic promotion place.

‘The players have been tremendous and they are hungry for more wins in the closing stretch,’ he said.

—Daily Mail