LONDON • Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri hailed the performance of Jamie Vardy after the striker continued to top the Premier League's goal-scoring chart.

The England striker led the Foxes to a 2-1 win at Norwich City on Saturday, converting a first-half penalty for his seventh goal of the campaign.

"He is in a great moment and the the strikers live for this kind of moment - now everything he does is gold," Ranieri told BT Sport.

"It is not only important scoring goals, his performance is important, how he and (Shinji) Okazaki pressed during all the match. This kind of pressing recharges their team-mates behind them and that is important."

Jeffrey Schlupp added a second just after half-time.

Dieumerci Mbokani's first goal since arriving on loan from Dynamo Kiev gave Norwich a lifeline but ultimately nothing more.

Just a second win in six matches propelled Leicester back up into the top four as Norwich slid one place to 13th before yesterday's matches.

Leicester were bidding to make amends for last weekend's 5-2 home defeat by Arsenal that shattered the Foxes' unbeaten start to the campaign.

Ranieri elected to leave in-form Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez, scorer of five goals this term, on the bench, but even without one of their key performers, Leicester prevailed.

"We responded very well with a good performance," said the Italian manager. "I am very pleased with my players because in the first half, we created a lot of chances to score a goal.

"In the second half, it was a battle but I enjoyed it because our concentration was good. Our 'keeper (Kasper) Schmeichel made two great saves."

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE