t game, is expected to play in the Panthers home opener against th

Leicesters Premier League title charge was built on exhilarating attacking in the first half of the season, but their mean defence is coming to the fore now. Ahead of their meeting with Southampton on Super Sunday, we take a look at how the high-flying Foxes have adapted… When Leicester sat top of the table at Christmas it was largely thanks to a formidable record of 37 goals in 17 games. Jamie Vardys record-breaking scoring run had propelled the relegation-favourites to unthinkable heights, but when his goals started drying up it was widely anticipated the magic would fade and the Foxes would start to slide.Their defensive record did not exactly cry out solidity, after all. Leicester had conceded 24 times in those 17 games - the same number as relegation-threatened Swansea - and it wasnt until late October that Claudio Ranieri had to come good on his promise of pizza to reward their first clean sheet of the season. Three months on, however, and Leicesters players are dining on pizza almost every week. Last weekends victory over Crystal Palace was their fourth 1-0 win in five games, and Premier League viewers have become accustomed to seeing them at the top of the pile.The Foxes are now just seven games away from making history with a title challenge that is rapidly gathering momentum. Leicesters Premier League record before and after Christmas Leicester 2015/16 Before Christmas After Christmas Games played 17 14 Wins 11 8 Draws 5 4 Losses 1 2 Goals scored 37 17 Goals conceded 24 7 Clean sheets 3 9 Leicester remain a deadly force on the counter-attack, but the statistics illustrate how the emphasis has shifted since Christmas. Before then, the Foxes were averaging 2.2 goals per game, but they have only netted 17 times in 14 outings since then at a rate of just 1.2 goals per game.Despite the drop-off in goals scored, however, Leicesters results have remained consistent, with their average points per game only falling slightly (from 2.4 before Christmas to 2.0 afterwards) while their lead at the top of the table continues to grow. Leicesters Premier League record before and after Christmas Leicester 2015/16 Before Christmas After Christmas Goals per game 2.2 1.2 Shots on target per game 5.1 3.9 Goals conceded per game 1.4 0.5 Shots on target faced per game 4.2 3.4 Points per game 2.2 2.0 A run of four shut-outs in five games has highlighted their defensive resilience in recent weeks, but the stinginess has been apparent for months. Since Christmas, and with help from midfield enforcer NGolo Kante, a first-choice back five of Kasper Schmeichel, Danny Simpson, Robert Huth, Wes Morgan and Christian Fuchs has only been breached seven times.Once we got that first clean sheet, it cemented the idea in peoples heads that keeping a clean sheet is a great foundation to build upon, said back-up goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer on Sky Sports News HQ. Weve got players who will always score goals, so if you can keep a clean sheet when the season gets tighter and the pressure starts to mount, you can win games by the odd goal. Mark Schwarzer highlights Leicesters defence as the key to their recent form Having found defensive shut-outs so hard to come by at the start of the campaign, Leicester have now kept nine in their last 13 games. In the same period, no other Premier League side has managed more than seven. They have the look of champions about them, noted Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp in his Daily Mail column - and hes not the only one to have been impressed.They dont give a lot away, said Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew after Riyad Mahrezs first-half strike settled last weekends game at Selhurst Park. Theyre underestimated defensively. Theyve got energy and theyre up to the ball all the time. Theyre tight and its difficult to create against them. Most Premier League clean sheets since Christmas Team Clean sheets Leicester 9 Southampton 7 Arsenal 6 Manchester City 6 The two centre-halves are confident in possession, they rarely make mistakes and they dont slash at clearances. They make good clearances from their defensive third and theyre fast. They have a lovely balance to the team and you have to admire them.Leicester have also had to adapt to their opponents attempts to nullify their goalscoring threat. The Foxes thrived in the first half of the season by ceding possession to their rivals, waiting for mistakes and springing forward on the counter-attack, but since their 2-1 defeat to Arsenal the likes of Norwich and West Brom have played them at their own game. Kasper Schmeichel, Robert Huth and Christian Fuchs have shone in recent weeks The Foxes have therefore averaged 53.4 per cent possession in the last five games compared to 40.5 per cent earlier in the season. The enforced change of approach has resulted in fewer opportunities for Ranieris attackers to get in behind, but their defensive solidity has made the difference at the other end.Leicester are now within touching distance of one of the most extraordinary achievements in football history, and while Mahrez and Vardy are likely to battle it out for the player of the year gong, they are certainly not the only individuals who are due a considerable share of the credit. Leicesters remarkable stats We look at the numbers behind Leicesters Premier League title chargeAlso See:Leicesters remarkable statsLeicester to slip up?Ranieri remaining groundedMahrez: Title getting closeChicago Bears Mitchell Trubisky Jersey . The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. Authentic Roquan Smith Jersey . Haas said he "felt a lot of pain" in his right shoulder when he slammed his racket to the ground in frustration after losing his serve at 3-3 in the first set. http://www.chicagobearsshoponline.com/william-perry-bears-jersey.html . -- Cam Newton pranced into the end zone, placed his hands over his chest and did his familiar Superman pose. Mike Singletary Jersey For Sale . To the surprise of many, it isnt the Wolverines but their in-state rivals the Michigan State Spartans. Chicago Bears Apparel Clearance . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night.NEW YORK -- Jimmy Garoppolo filled in for Tom Brady quite nicely.Garoppolo was so good in New Englands season-opening win at Arizona that the Patriots moved into the top spot in the AP Pro32 poll on Tuesday.The Cardinals made it to the NFC championship game last season, but Garoppolo threw for 264 yards and a touchdown to lead the Patriots to a 23-21 victory on Sunday night. New England received five of 12 first-place votes in balloting by media members who regularly cover the NFL.With Tom Brady sitting out the first game of a four-week suspension and All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski out with a hamstring injury, Jimmy Garoppolo did just enough to help the Patriots to a stunning road win at Arizona, Newsdays Bob Glauber said.But the real star of this game was Patriots coach Bill Belichick, whose sideline genius makes up for the loss of his two star players.The Patriots will be without Brady for three more games, all of them at home starting on Sunday against Miami. New England is the only AFC East team to win its opener.Defending champion Denver received three first-place votes and moved up to No. 2 in the poll.Pittsburgh, which opened with a dominating 38-16 win at Washington, earned a first-place vote and is No. 3 overall.Any team that tries to cover Antonio Brown with one defender deserves what it gets -- a funky end zone celebration, said Ira Kaufman of the Pro Football Hall of Famme.ddddddddddddreen Bay received two first-place votes and is the highest-ranked NFC team at No. 4.Carolina, which lost its opener to Denver when Graham Gano missed a 50-yard field goal in the final minute, had a first-place vote but dropped to fifth.Cam Newton, who took several hard hits in that game, is expected to play in the Panthers home opener against the 49ers.Hes tough, hes resilient and hes moving around pretty good, coach Ron Rivera said Monday.Seattle and Cincinnati, who both opened with close wins, tied for sixth.Arizona dropped from No. 2 to No. 8. Chandler Catanzaro missed a 47-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter. The snap was low and holder Drew Butler said he trapped the ball near where it was supposed to be.That probably threw the timing off a little bit, Butler said. But me and Cat (Catanzaro) have a job to do and Ill definitely take some blame on that one. I wish we could have put it through for our teammates. The offense did a great job of giving us the opportunity.Kansas City and Minnesota rounded out the top 10.The Vikings open their new stadium on Sunday night against the rival Packers.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL---AP Sports Writers Steve Reed and Bob Baum contributed to this story. ' ' '