LONDON • In-form Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy claimed the headlines after scoring in a seventh successive Premier League game to clinch a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday.

But the England international stressed that a team effort was behind their fifth top-flight win of the campaign, which cemented their position in fifth place.

"You've seen how we've defended at the end. We've conceded a few lately but we were defending like absolute lions and the three points were fully deserved for the second-half performance I think," he told the club's website. "They defended brilliantly and it just shows the character in the squad because every man was defending."

Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri had promised to buy his side pizza after they kept a clean sheet. And they finally earned some Italian fare after 12 matches.

"I am very glad because it was a difficult match because the Crystal Palace players are very tall and big and strong," the 64-year-old Italian said. "But we fight and battle and it was a more Italian match than an English match, very tactical.

"Without their mistake I think the match was 0-0."

Vardy bagged his 10th league goal of the season in the 59th minute at the King Power Stadium after Brede Hangeland lost possession to Riyad Mahrez. The forward then picked out Vardy, who dinked the ball over Wayne Hennessey and slotted into the empty net.

Vardy is now among a select group of eight players, including Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry, Ian Wright and Ruud van Nistelrooy, to have netted in seven straight Premier League games.

"I am pleased for Jamie Vardy. It is a big achievement for him, for us, the fans - for everybody," added Ranieri. "Maybe he gets a bigger piece of pizza - one and a half for him."

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE