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Leicester 1 Chelsea 2

Alvaro Morata scored his third goal in four Premier League games and N’Golo Kante was on target against his former club as Chelsea held on for victory.

Morata headed Antonio Conte’s side ahead and Kante’s low strike after the break doubled the lead.

Jamie Vardy’s penalty set up a nervy finale, but Chelsea held on for a third league victory from four games.

A routine win seemed likely after Kante’s goal early in the second period, but a poor Cesar Azpilicueta backpass led to a rash challenge on Vardy by Thibaut Courtois, who was unable to save the Leicester’s striker’s blasted penalty.

Both teams had opportunities in the closing stages, substitute Willian twice going close, while Vardy could have snatched an equaliser for the hosts in injury-time but could not reach a teasing right-wing cross.

Morata had three sights of goal before he made it 1-0 after a thrilling end to an otherwise cagey first half.

The Spaniard scored his third headed goal for the Blues from an inviting Azpilicueta cross moments after Courtois had made a brilliant save to block Islam Slimani’s strike on the counter attack.

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Chelsea, with wing-backs Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso both prominent, continued to dominate possession, with David Luiz having a free-kick comfortably saved and Moses seeing a fierce strike beaten away in the final seconds of the half.

Vardy was typically lively for the Foxes on the break, shooting narrowly off target with one low effort.

But their best first-half chance fell to Slimani when he was played in by Riyad Mahrez after Kante lost possession deep in Foxes territory. However, Courtois spared Kante’s blushes, getting his angles spot on and Morata then headed the opener.

After the break, Kante was allowed time and space on the edge of the box and made the most of it to direct the ball into the bottom corner for a 2-0 lead.

Vardy’s penalty made it 2-1, after which Chelsea brought on Willian, Davide Zappacosta and fit-again playmaker Eden Hazard.

Defender Zappacosta nearly scored with a low strike, while Hazard looked sharp in his 16 minutes of action.