Mateta and Guéhi attack as Crystal Palace extends Leicester's losing streak | first division

Some of the biggest cheers from Leicester fans all night came when a flag-waving pitch invader managed to evade several stewards before being tackled. Unfortunately for Leicester, that appears to be their direction of travel.

Second-half goals from Jean-Philippe Mateta and Marc Guéhi enabled Crystal Palace to equal the club's best unbeaten away record in the top flight in six consecutive games, putting them eight points clear of a relegation zone in which Leicester now appear entrenched.

they can have avoided a PSR sanction on the eve of this match, but after changing manager last month, Ruud van Nistelrooy's team have now lost six consecutive Premier League games. The only bright spot as the fog descended on the King Power Stadium has been the FA Cup, where last Saturday's 6-2 defeat to QPR earned them a trip back to the manager's former club, Manchester United.

It remains to be seen how he will shore up this defense in time for that emotional return next month. Leicester have conceded 25 goals in the 10 games since Steve Cooper's dismissal. The home fans turned against the club's director of football, Jon Rudkin, later. Having fielded strong teams in their FA Cup third round wins following the busy festive schedule, there was a refreshing openness in the early stages of this game. Refreshing for neutrals, perhaps, if not for coaches.

Jamie Vardy had four presentable chances in the first half, latching on to a simple long diagonal from Wout Faes and firing wide from the right channel from one before going close when he was clearly sent inside left after the brilliance of Stephy Mavididi, who was clearly in the spirit. The Leicester captain, however, fired straight at Dean Henderson, who was only too keen to acknowledge the away fans' chants of “England No.1”.

However, Palace have performed well away from home and, when they returned to full strength after illness deprived them of four first-team players in the Cup win over Stockport, they looked dangerous on the counter-attack.

When Tyrick Mitchell crossed from the left, Eberechi Eze was allowed an indecent amount of time and space to chest the ball down, stay alert, turn and shoot towards goal. The Leicester defense seemed to have been willing to let him light a cigarette and get out his book before daring to challenge him. Unfortunately for Palace, Jean-Philippe Mateta stood in the way.

Only Mateta will know how he shot over the goal, with only Jacob Stolarczyk in his path, from eight meters when Daniel Muñoz's block on Victor Kristiansen became the perfect assist.

When Will Hughes scored a 20-yard goal just over the bar moments before half-time, it became clear that Leicester's chances of claiming their second clean sheet of the season were by no means guaranteed.

Sure enough, Palace took the lead just seven minutes after the break. Ismaïla Sarr did well to win the ball back from Mavididi and make an excellent straight pass for Mateta's diagonal run behind Vestergaard's back. The French striker took his first touch to pass the ball around Stolarczyk, and his second to score his ninth goal for Palace this season.

Palace could have been two up within 10 minutes, Sarr sending Mitchell down the left side of the penalty area only for Stolarczyk to read his attempted dink and save.

Van Nistelrooy took decisive action and sent on three substitutes with 21 minutes remaining. At the end of a magnificent one-touch play, Kasey McAteer, with a new pair of legs, quickly returned the ball to Bouba Soumaré, who hit the ball against the crossbar.

For a moment it felt as if the force was with Leicester, although some supporters directed their frustration at the club's director of football, Jon Rudkin. The chants of “We want Rudkin out” grew louder after Guéhi appeared out of the fog to volley home Eze's free kick.