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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 charge Also See: Leicesters remarkable stats Leicester to slip up? Ranieri remaining grounded Mahrez: Title getting close Cheap Warriors Jerseys . A 23-year-old rookie, Stroman is 4-2 with a 3.44 earned run average in 12 games this season, the past seven of those being starts. He logged the first scoreless outing of his career on Friday versus Oakland in a no-decision. Chris Mullin Jersey . -- Antoine Bibeau bought the Val-dOr Foreurs valuable time at the Memorial Cup with his 51-save shutout Friday. http://www.cheapwarriorsjerseysstore.com/?tag=authentic-stephen-curry-jersey . TSN 1290s game day coverage begins on Monday, June 9 at 5:30pm ct as the Blue Bombers take on the Toronto Argonauts in pre-season action. Bombers game day broadcasts on TSN 1290 are hosted by Winnipeg Blue Bomber Hall of Famers Troy Westwood and new addition Chris Walby, alongside beat reporter Darrin Bauming, who delivers regular reports on the team for TSN 1290 all-season long. Cheap Warriors Jerseys China .S. Basketball Writers Association. McDermott, who finished his career at Creighton as college basketballs fifth-leading scorer, accepted the honour from Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson at AT&T Stadium, site of the Final Four. Cheap NBA Jerseys .m. ET, CBSOPENING LINE — Packers by 3RECORD VS. SPREAD — New England 7-4, Green Bay 5-5-1SERIES RECORD — Tied 5-5.INDIANAPOLIS -- Paul George beat the odds to become an NBA star. Hell have to do it all over again to play next season. Two weeks after a gruesome compound fracture of his right leg, George said Friday he remains hopeful that he can make it back onto the court late next season even though its a longshot. George called the injury a "freak accident." "All I can do at this point is sleep, watch TV and lay down, so its tough for me. Im used to being active, lifting weights, being in the gym," George said as his mother and father watched his news conference from a few feet away. "At the same time, I want to be part of this team. The last thing I want to do is feel like Im not part of this team because Im out. Im holding out hope, just personally, because I want to be back." George has thrived in the underdog role, going from mostly overlooked prep recruit to Fresno State star. He was impressive enough in college to catch the attention of Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird, who took him No. 10 overall in 2010. After his third season in the league, George was named the NBAs Most Improved Player. Hes led the Pacers in scoring, played in the All-Star Game and made the leagues all-defensive team each of the past two seasons. Paul was injured Aug. 1 during a U.S. national team scrimmage in Las Vegas when he his right leg collided with the basketball stanchion, snapping it in two. "When I looked down and saw bone sticking out, I knew it was bad," George said, later describing the feeling as having his leg lit on fire. "Id felt pain before, but I have never felt pain like that. So I knew it was bad." George said he has watched the replay once and wont watch it again. Doctors have told the 24-year-old star that he is likely to make a full recovery, though it will take a full year. Bird and coach Frank Vogel said earlier this week they did not plan to have George in 2014-15. George said he thinks he can change those plans -- if he can avoid risking another injury. George said doctors placed pins in his knee and ankle to stabilize a rod that was inserted into the injured leg, which was brooken in two places.dddddddddddd. Three days later, he returned to his suburban Indianapolis home where is now recuperating in a cast and hobbling around on crutches. While no firm timetable has been set for his return, George said he could begin strengthening his right knee as early as next week. Thats little consolation to the workaholic. "This was going to be a huge year for me, so for me not to be out there at the beginning, I do feel a little guilty about that," George said. "It hurts." The immediate question that went through Georges mind was whether he did something wrong on the play. Some have questioned whether the NBAs highest-paid stars, such as George, should risk injury while representing their country or whether the stanchion was too close to the court. George didnt offer an opinion about the stanchion but did make one thing clear: He wants to play for the 2016 Olympic Team. "I think its real unfair, the criticism they are getting because it was a freak accident. No ones really been injured since USA Basketball has been here," George said. "It was a freak accident. Freak accidents happen." George thanked the national team, players around the league, those within the Pacers organizations and fans for their outpouring of support. A small contingent of Georges fan club waited outside Bankers Life Fieldhouse to catch a glimpse of him pulling into the arenas underground garage. A handful of teammates also showed up at the news conference. George recently received clearance from the NBA to change his number from 24 to 13, giving him the much more marketable moniker of PG-13. To do that, he splurged for about 600 of his own jerseys, which he donated to his high school and a local Boys & Girls Club near his hometown of Palmdale, California. Otherwise, hes not planning to change a thing. "I never play the game with any hesitation, thats probably why Im in this cast," George said, drawing laughter. "Im not looking at this as something negative for my career. Its something I can overcome and it will be a great opportunity to sit back and watch and learn the game." ' ' '