Schmeichel reveals secret of success

Kasper Schmeichel says Leicester's rock solid defense is the secret to the shock leader's remarkable charge toward a fairy tale Premier League title.

Claudio Ranieri's side is within touching distance of becoming the most unexpected champion in English soccer history as it heads to struggling Sunderland on Sunday and Denmark goalkeeper Schmeichel has no doubt he and the four men immediately in front of him will lay the foundation for another priceless victory.

Chelsea captain John Terry this week named seven Leicester players in his vote for the PFA's team of the year and three of those nominations were for Schmeichel and the club's centerbacks Wes Morgan and Robert Huth.

That trio, combined with fullbacks Danny Simpson and Christian Fuchs, have proved an impenetrable obstacle to opposing forwards as the pressure of the title race has mounted, with Leicester grinding out five 1-0 wins in its past six matches.

"We defend as a team, we are tough to break down. They are an absolute privilege to play behind, those boys," Schmeichel said.

"They throw their bodies in the way of everything and give us the best opportunity to go and win games.

"Building a good foundation with clean sheets is obviously a great start. For me they are a pleasure to play behind."

If the Foxes win at the Stadium of Light they will open up a 10-point lead over second-placed Tottenham, which will then have to beat Manchester United at White Hart Lane later on Sunday to have any chance of remaining in the hunt.

Ranieri's men, 5,000-1 outsiders for the title at the beginning of the season, have enjoyed such a trouble-free run-in that they could even be crowned champions for the first time as soon as April 24 against Swansea if they keep winning and other results go their way.

Tottenham has no margin for error after last weekend's draw at Liverpool, which featured an exquisite equalizer from Harry Kane but also the frustration of failing to finish off the Reds.

Slender hopes

Kane's 22nd league goal of the season set a club record in the Premier League era, but the England striker would happily swap personal plaudits for a title winners' medal and he is determined to keep hunting the Foxes right until the end.

"Any day of the week you'd rather your team win rather than have personal achievements," Kane said. "For me it is about the team getting as many points as possible.

"Anything can happen; Leicester will do very well to win every game until the end of the season.

"We have to focus on our next game against Manchester United and look for the win."

Arsenal, in third place, makes the short trip across London to face West Ham knowing it must win to maintain its slender hopes of a first title since 2004.

The Gunners are 11 points behind Leicester with a game in hand and, despite successive victories, boss Arsene Wenger is as focused on securing a top-four finish - the team is five points ahead of fifth-placed Manchester United and seven in front of West Ham - as he is on an unlikely title charge.

Swindon trio banned over laughing gas

A trio of Swindon players have been suspended amid reports they inhaled nitrous oxide on a live social media video.

The images appeared to show Drissa Traore, Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill and Jeremy Balmy taking nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas or hippy crack, via balloons.

They were also filmed smoking a shisha pipe during the 18-minute video, which emerged 24 hours after the League One struggler lost at Oldham.

Between 2006 and 2012, 17 people in Britain died after taking nitrous oxide, while Manchester City's England winger Raheem Sterling, then at Liverpool, was photographed allegedly taking the dangerous substance in 2015.

"The club have already started an internal investigation into the trio's recent conduct," a Swindon statement said.

"They will not be considered for selection during this process."

(China Daily 04/09/2016 page12)