DIEUMERCI Mbokani scored his first Norwich City goal but the Canaries were beaten 2-1 by a vibrant Leicester City.

The powerful frontman turned home Jonny Howson's cross on 68 minutes to halve his team's deficit and generate hopes of a comeback in the Premier League encounter on Saturday.

Leicester had put themselves in a commanding position after Jeff Schlupp's smart finish had added to Jamie Vardy's first half penalty.

City never hit top gear in front of a record all-seater crowd of 27,067, and will now enter the two-week break for internationals with food for thought, with nine points from their first eight Premier League matches. Newcastle are their next opponents on Sunday, October 18.

Alex Neil brought Matt Jarvis back into his team after the winger missed last weekend's 2-2 draw with his parent club West Ham. Martin Olsson made way in the Canaries' only change.

That meant Robbie Brady reverted to full-back, with Nathan Redmond once again having to settle for a place on the substitutes' bench, where he was joined by Kyle Lafferty among others.

Vardy, the Premier League's leading goalscorer, started in attack for Leicester, where he was partnered by Japan international Shinji Okazaki. Ex-City loanee Ritchie de Laet was on their bench.

Norwich started well, with Cameron Jerome firing over after a quick one-two with Wes Hoolahan, who before kick-off had picked up the Anglian Home Improvements Player of the Month award for September.

Leicester's high-line soon started causing problems for the Canaries, however, with Neil's team not able to command possession as comfortably as they had in recent matches.

Vardy forced John Ruddy into a save from a narrow angle before City's goalkeeper produced an outstanding stop to deny Danny Drinkwater from close-range after the ball dropped loose in the box.

Then, on 27 minutes, referee Mark Clattenburg awarded Leicester a penalty. Vardy and Sebastien Bassong tussled in the box, and the England forward fell to the ground, with the referee immediately pointing to the spot.

Vardy netted his seventh goal of the campaign to edge Claudio Ranieri's team into a deserved lead.

City weren't retaining the ball in the final third but forced some pressure towards the end of the half, but Russell Martin's wayward effort from the corner of the box was their best try, with Shinji Okazaki also firing across goal for Leicester.

HALF-TIME: Norwich City 0-1 Leicester City

Neil's men began the second period on the front foot but they were caught on the counter-attack just two minutes as the Foxes went two up.

Howson was dispossessed, with the ball making its way to N'Golo Kante, who slotted a pass through to Schlupp, and the left-winger finished confidently to deal a blow to City's chances in the game.

Their manager reacted by immediately introducing Redmond in place of Graham Dorrans, and they had a penalty appeal turned down when Wes Morgan appeared to hold back Jerome in the area.

Matt Jarvis was then withdrawn for Mbokani, and the two substitutes' presence boosted the Canaries.

After a succession of corners, it was a cross from Howson that helped yield their goal on 68 minutes, as Mbokani skilfully crossed his ball home to rejuvenate the home crowd.

Leicester, through substitute Leonardo Ulloa, thought they had scored just three minutes later however - but Clattenburg blew for a free-kick for a foul by Robert Huth on Ruddy.

Lafferty replaced Jerome in Neil's final substitution, but Vardy - who became the pantomime villain of the crowd after going down late on - drilled an effort across goal with the Foxes still a threat going forward.

Redmond arrowed a shot that rebounded off the corner of the woodwork, and although they threw everything into finding a leveller, it didn't come and City will head into the break on the back of a loss.

FULL-TIME: Norwich City 1-2 Leicester City

GOALS: Canaries: Dieumerci Mbokani (68) - Foxes: Jamie Vardy (pen 28), Jeff Schlupp (47)

NORWICH CITY: Ruddy; Whittaker, Martin (c), Bassong, Brady; Howson, Dorrans (Redmond 50), Tettey, Jarvis (Mbokani 59); Hoolahan; Jerome (Lafferty 77). Subs not used: Rudd (GK), Olsson, R Bennett, O'Neil.

LEICESTER CITY: Schmeichel; Simpson (Benalouane 64), Morgan (c), Huth, Fuchs; Albrighton, Drinkwater, Kante, Schlupp (King 77); Vardy, Okazaki (Ulloa 70). Subs not used: Schwarzer (GK), de Laet, Mahrez, Inler.

REFEREE: Mark Clattenburg

ATTENDANCE: 27,067

GOLDEN GOAL TIMES: 27:12, 46:29, 67:27

Norwich City v Leicester City

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