Albion 0, Leicester City 2

Albion's form at the Amex in the Premier League has been impressive.

It has produced 24 of their 34 points and is good enough for a place in the top eight. But it should be even better.

Draws that should have been wins earlier in the season, against the likes of Everton and Bournemouth, had almost been forgotten after three straight home victories in the top flight for only the third time in the club's history.

Now a defeat that should have been a win can be added to the 'if only' tally.

The singular similarity to the first clash with Leicester was the identical scoreline, a horrible anomaly.

Albion looked every inch Premier League novices in the East Midlands in their opening away game back in August.

They looked every inch a bona fide Premier League this time. You get what you deserve over the course of 38 games but Chris Hughton's side did not get what they deserved in the 31st.

They would have without a rare off day in front of goal on home soil for Glenn Murray (below).

The Argus: He has scored 36 goals in 79 games since returning from Bournemouth 20 months ago. Twenty-seven of them have been at the Amex, including six in six prior to this abberation.

Murray will be glad to see the back of Leicester. An ankle injury sustained at the King Power Stadium hampered him in the early stages of the season.

Kasper Schmeichel outFoxed him when the opportunity presented itself to reward Albion's superiority deep into the second half.

Jose Izquierdo was sandwiched by Wilfred Ndidi and Harry Maguire. Murray checked his run-up in an attempt get the better of Schmeichel from the ensuing penalty.

The Danish keeper was not fooled, guessed correctly and dived to his left to save the spot-kick, struck at a convenient height.

Murray and Schmeichel have both been around long enough to appreciate their occupational hazards. Goalscorers and goalsavers tend to be heroes one minute, villains the next.

Schmeichel was the latter in Leicester's previous match prior to the international break, beaten by Pedro to a cross for Chelsea's extra-time winner in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

It was Murray's turn to be in the dock, not just for the penalty but a glaring first half miss of the target, also from 12-yard range, when Pascal Gross's pass put him through and Schmeichel was off his line sharply to close him down.

While Murray probably cost Albion three points, he has won them many more with his goals, including four successful penalties.

Hughton said: "It's no different if a defender makes a mistake which leads to a goal. We don't generally question too much, we make decisions and hope they are the right ones.

"Glenn this season has been very good – look at the goals he's scored. He’s scored goals that have won us games. Even in a hugely disappointing moment, these are the things you still have to remember."

It should be remembered as well, continuing the swings and roundabouts theme, how much more uncomfortable the bottom of the table would look had it not been for Matthew Ryan's last-gasp penalty save at Stoke a few weeks ago.

The Argus: Albion were still on course for a point and first clean sheet of 2018 against a lacklustre Leicester until lanky midfielder Vicente Iborra headed in Ben Chilwell's left-wing cross seven minutes from time (above).

A flattering lead was doubled in stoppage time with a tap-in for an otherwise subdued Jamie Vardy, his tenth goal in his last 12 starts for club and country, from sub Demarai Gray's cross, with Shane Duffy left upfield in a desperate attempt to salvage parity.

Leicester had been reduced to ten men by then. The inconsolable Ndidi, booked in the first half for an obvious foul on Beram Kayal, was a little unfortunate to be cautioned again when Duffy strode forward and made a meal of a more innocuous challenge.

Leicester will qualify for the Europa League if they finish seventh, in the likely event of Southampton not winning the FA Cup.

Escaping from the bottom three is a much bigger priority for Saints, one of several still well adrift of Albion with time running out.

Defeat, although hard to take, did not do too much damage and there was plenty to like about the performance, not least in stifling the menace of Vardy and Riyad Mahrez.

The Argus: Record signing Jurgen Locadia made an encouraging full Premier League debut, Beram Kayal's (above) display disguised the continuing absence of the hamstrung Dale Stephens and Gross was economically influential again.

Hughton said: "At the moment it hurts and it will for the next couple of days. But what they (players) will be lifted by is another opportunity at home next Saturday. It's a big opportunity for us."

Indeed it is against fast-falling Huddersfield. The state of play still looks a lot healthier for Albion than them.