One thing impressive about Leicester is they fight for every ball, they never give up defending, they throw themselves in front of every shot as is their lives depended on it, to be able to do that over an entire season is one of the reasons they are top i suppose

Those are all the good habits they learned when avoiding relegation last season. Throw in Kante and wise substitutions by Ranieri and it becomes a winning combination.

Should be 2-0

Don't agree with Niall Quinn at all there, that should be a penalty against Huth for handball.

HIs arm's sticking way out from his body and, to use the language of the law, he has "made himself bigger" as a result.

Shocking miss by Leicester's Simpson. Will be painful if they don't win.

It's unfair to be too hard on Simpson, As a full back he did very well to be in position to score the goal and he made a typical full back's effort at doing so. Still a bad, possibly costly miss though.

Agreed, clear penalty for me and I'm surprised how little protest there was.

Perhaps Southampton players thought he was so close to the player kicking the ball he couldn't possibly have avoided the ball and so didn't protest?

Players have cottoned on that pundits are willing to defend unintentional handballs by sticking your hand out when defending close to an attacker and are using it to their advantage.

There needs to be a directive from officials to say sticking arms out needlessly and it hitting your hand still constitutes handball.

It clearly wasn't deliberate handball though, so would have been harsh to give

Question is are defenders using that to their advantage to make themselves bigger (sticking their arms out) knowing officials and pundits are always going to say unintentional handball due to being close to the attacker?

Forster easily Southampton's man of the match, which says much about the way Leicester have played.

For me that should be the main interpretation of the rule, not just based on deliberate or not , but also whether the player made himself bigger that stopped the ball, even if you dont mean to stick your arms out, if it stops a shot on goal or a cross it should be a pen, the only time i would go against it is if the shot or cross was straight at the player from a short distance

If you are going to unpick all of this, then you will also need to address attackers deliberately aiming the ball at a defender's arm/hand from close range, because they really do have the skill and ability to do so. The question of intent is fundamental to handball/penalty and any move away from that creates a mess in my view.

As soon has you start putting exceptions in, you make it too hard for the average player/pundit who struggle with the current rule

1-0, 1-0, 1-0........that's how you win titles. Leicester've dug in, kept it simple and ground out wins. They don't have the best players, but they are the most organised team in the division.

I think three more wins and they've done it. Doesn't matter what their last three games are, I think if they needed to draw at Old Trafford they can do so. Incredible achievement.

The current handball law is a mess, though, because nobody really knows how big the intent factor is the law anymore.

Law 12, which covers handball, states that the referee decides whether a handball is deliberate according to:

- The proximity of the offending player to the ball

- The movement of the arm or hand towards the ball

- Whether the player's hands or arms are in the expected position

- Whether the player uses his hands or arms to make himself bigger

Huth definitely transgressed on the latter two but possibility not the former two, so is that enough to make the decision?


Four - although three will probably be enough as it's hard to see Spurs winning all of their remaining games.

That's it, Leicester have won, they extend their lead to seven points and it's hard not to think that it's all over bar the shouting.

Unbelievable really.

Tactically and defensively they are the best team. They have been under pressure second half but dealt with it reasonably comfortably.

And Leicester simply keep marching on. Becoming hard to see how they will be denied the title.

judging distance must be easier than trying to work out if a player has handled it deliberately though

Well done Leicester, just keep getting the 1-0 wins.

Wow, the surprise team just keep on surprising, good on Leicester and their fans, they fully deserve to be Champions.

Leicester on track to get twice as many points as their initial target of 40 points.

Thats a clear case of not a penalty imo

Cannot see Spurs winning all their fixtures in April, hence why I think three will be enough.

Really think if Arsenal and City got their act together in March, we would've had a barnstorming finish to the season. It seems Sky banked on the Eithad game in May as being the title decider; but I imagine Leicester going to Old Trafford, needing a point will decide their fate.

They've been the best team this season, without a shadow of a doubt.

Four wins required for Leicester. Based on current form that has to be very likely.