LOCAL hero Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall bagged his first-ever Premier League goal as Brendan Rodgers' Foxes leap-frogged Palace to move up to ninth.

The 24-year-old had previously saved his best for Europe, where he had helped himself to a couple of strikes this season.

But his goal just before half-time doubled Leicester's lead, six minutes after Ademola Lookman had fired them in front.

And although Wilfried Zaha pulled one back in the second half it summed up Palace's struggle here as Kasper Schmeichel saved his initial spot-kick AND his retake, after Caglar Soyuncu was punished for encroaching.

Before Wilf finally made it third time lucky by heading the rebound behind the unfortunate Dane.

However, with three games in hand on some of those above them, Rodgers' men are hitting form just in time to make their run-in interesting.

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Rodgers brought in a completely new back four with one eye on Thursday's Europa Conference League quarter-final decider against PSV Eindhoven.

And it was one of his stand-ins who stood out early on as Luke Thomas tried to stake his claim for a starting place in the Netherlands.

The left-back produced a wonderful searching pass to set Ademola Lookman scampering clear of Joachim Andersen after five minutes.

However, the RB Leipzig loanee slashed his left foot shot wide of Vicente Guaita's near post.

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Thomas then flashed a wicked cross across the face of goal but Patson Daka arrived a fraction late to apply the finishing touch.

Palace responded and Zaha looked menacing as he broke free on the left, but Daniel Amartey applied enough pressure to force the Palace icon into drilling his shot wide.

Kasper Schmeichel then turned away Jean-Philippe's net-bound low shot to deny the Frenchman, who was looking to score in three games on the spin.

But Vieira's FA Cup semi-finalists imploded just before half-time as they conceded two goals in six sloppy minutes.

With half-time looming, Palace pushed the self-destruct button as Zaha waited on a Marc Guehi pass to arrive and was hustled by James Justin, who robbed him.

Youri Tielemans dinked the ball over Jeff Schlupp to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who produced a superb defence-splitting pass to pick out Lookman, who expertly slammed the ball low past Guaita.

Palace were rattled and Leicester doubled their lead on half-time with a sensational strike.

Marc Guehi made a hash of cutting out Justin's pass, allowing Daka to set up Dewsbury-Hall.

He was, somehow, allowed three touches of the ball by Cheick Kouyate, who gave him space to spin and send a stunning left-footer into the roof of Palace's net from the edge of the area.

Leicester let the Londoners back into it just beyond the hour mark after conceding a soft penalty.

Tielemans stuck out a lazy leg after Jordan Ayew's stepover tempted him in and the wily winger accepted the open invitation to go to ground.

Zaha's initial spot-kick was brilliantly saved by Schmeichel who dived left to palm it away.

But Leicester's celebrations were halted when VAR flagged up encroachment and Soyuncu was found guilty of straying into the box prematurely.

Zaha stepped up for a second time and once again Schmeichel defied him, blocking his second attempt to his right.

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But the ball reared up and Zaha headed past the helpless Dane to get it right … as he found the net at the third time of asking.

However, Leicester withstood a couple of scares to hold out for three valuable points.

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