Fulham 0-2 Leicester: Iheanacho and Justin strike as Foxes sink struggling hosts

James Maddison took a pre-match selfie on the Craven Cottage pitch before producing a performance that ensured the image will take a prominent place in the Leicester star’s family album.

Two moments of inspiration from Maddison set up both Leicester goals – scored in the first half by Kelechi Iheanacho and James Justin – and took Brendan Rodgers’ side back to third in the Premier League, leaving Fulham still seven points adrift of safety.

This result will have been as popular in Brighton, Burnley and Newcastle as it was in Leicester, as it left Fulham still without a league victory since they won the reverse fixture 2-1 at the end of November. For Leicester, it was a solid return to form after last weekend’s surprise home defeat by Leeds, in which they proved to themselves that they can win tricky games without injured pair Jamie Vardy and Wilfred Ndidi.

With that key duo on the sidelines, the pressure was on Maddison to step up – and he did so with two brilliant assists. He now has six of them, as well as six goals, in his last 12 matches, and the 24-year-old is making himself increasingly difficult for England manager Gareth Southgate to ignore.

Fulham were in desperate need of victories to show for their improved performances and they carved Leicester open in the 12th minute for the first clear chance of the game.

Andre-Frank Zambo-Anguissa escaped down the left and sent the ball low into the box for Aleksandar Mitrovic. The Serb held off Caglar Soyuncu – who was replacing the injured Wesley Fofana – and shot, with Justin making a vital block to take the venom from the strike.

Soon afterwards, Leicester were in front. Hamza Choudhury found Maddison to his right and the playmaker delivered the perfect cross for Iheanacho, who sneaked between Joachim Andersen and Ola Aina to head the ball past Alphonse Areola.

The visitors nearly made it two in the 25th minute when Ayoze Perez’s cross found its way to Soyuncu, whose fierce volley was well stopped by Areola.

It was a messy, prickly contest, with neither side able to find consistent rhythm. Mitrovic was being kept at arm’s length by Soyuncu and Jonny Evans, while in the absence of Wilfred Ndidi, Youri Tielemans was tigerish in central midfield.

After a half in which he was barely tested, Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel kept his side in front two minutes from the interval, leaping to push Tosin Adarabioyo’s header over the top following Ademola Lookman’s corner.

The importance of that save became apparent only 60 seconds later. Iheanacho held the ball up on the halfway line before feeding Maddison, who drew two defenders towards him before sliding a glorious pass inside for Justin, powering forward from left-back.

Justin rounded Areola with his first touch and though he took the ball wider than he would have liked, the Foxes defender was still able to squeeze the ball inside the post to double his team’s lead.

Fulham boss Parker changed things at half-time, bringing off Zambo-Anguissa and Kenny Tete and sending on Mario Lemina and Ivan Cavaleiro, with the latter asked to give more support to Mitrovic.

Cavaleiro nearly made an immediate impact three minutes after coming on, but his powerful drive from 20 yards flew just wide.

At the other end, Harrison Reed produced a fine block to deny Harvey Barnes after an exchange of passes with Maddison, before Ricardo Pereira thought he had marked his first league for 10 months with a goal – only for his effort to be ruled out because substitute Marc Albrighton was offside.