Match ends, Swansea City 1, Leicester City 2.
Leicester made a winning start to life after the dismissal of Craig Shakespeare as they outplayed Swansea City to earn only a second Premier League victory of the season.
The visitors created a host of chances and took the lead when Federico Fernandez headed into his own net from Riyad Mahrez's whipped cross.
A swift counter-attack saw Shinji Okazaki score Leicester's second early in the second half, before Alfie Mawson hooked in from close range to spark hopes of a Swansea revival.
But the sluggish hosts struggled to create scoring opportunities as they slumped to a fourth defeat from five home league games this season.
"It is very difficult when you lose the manager and I wasn't sure what response we would get," said 41-year-old former Oxford boss Appleton, who took charge following Shakespeare's sacking on Tuesday.
"It has been a difficult week. To produce that performance after the week we have had, the players deserve a lot of credit.
"One game doesn't make you a Premier League manager and I'm very aware of that.
"But I'm also aware that I'd like to think as an assistant I'm more than capable of doing that role.
"I've done [the assistant role] twice now - I had 15 months at West Brom and here at Leicester - and I'd love an opportunity to continue to do that."
Victory lifts Leicester up to 13th in the table, while Swansea drop to 15th, level on points with Stoke in the relegation zone.
- Clement laments Swans' 'step backwards'
- Reaction to Saturday's Premier League matches
- Relive the action at the Liberty Stadium
Managerless Leicester impress
This fixture had become synonymous with managerial change, starting two seasons ago when a Mahrez hat-trick gave Leicester a 3-0 win and consigned then Swansea boss Garry Monk to the sack.
Last term, it was a 2-0 Swans victory which proved to be Claudio Ranieri's final game as Leicester manager and, this time, the Foxes responded superbly to the departure of Ranieri's successor, Shakespeare.
Appleton could have had a goal within one minute of his tenure's start as Okazaki had a header saved by Lukasz Fabianski, and the Polish goalkeeper was at full stretch soon after to tip over Marc Albrighton's firm effort.
The verve in Leicester's play and the frequency with which they carved Swansea open was in stark contrast to the uninspiring draw at home to West Brom on Monday which had ultimately cost Shakespeare his job.
The only concern for Appleton was that his players had not turned their superiority into a wider winning margin, though those worries were eased with a second goal four minutes after the interval.
It was a goal which typified Leicester's display, with Albrighton instigating the counter-attack with a darting run and chipping ahead to Mahrez, who squared the ball for Okazaki to tap in from close range.
Swansea's home struggles continue
Swansea ended a run of three successive home league defeats with victory over Huddersfield last week, though their insipid start against Leicester suggested their improvement at the Liberty Stadium would be short-lived.
Tammy Abraham scored both goals against Huddersfield but the striker on loan from Chelsea had no service or support from his team-mates on this occasion, as the home side struggled to cope with the high tempo set by their energetic opponents.
Even though Okazaki's goal appeared to have opened the floodgates for Leicester, Swansea gave themselves an improbable route back as Mawson struck from a corner, turning smartly and firing into the bottom corner.
It was a goal from nothing and, although Leicester retreated in the closing stages, they seldom seemed troubled by their unimaginative hosts.
Swansea launched a few balls forward in hope rather than expectation and, despite a couple of half-chances for Wayne Routledge and Jordan Ayew, this was another poor performance which laid bare the shortcomings of Paul Clement's side.
"The performance in the first half was what let us down," said Clement.
"Their first goal was marginally offside but from a performance point of view we have to be better. We made a step back.
"It was frustrating and I'm disappointed to have gone backwards."
Man of the match - Riyad Mahrez
Own goal curse for Swans - the best stats
- Since the start of 2015/16, Swansea have scored 11 own goals, more than twice as many as any other side
- No player has scored more Premier League own goals since the start of 2015/16 than Fernandez (3 - level with Jack Cork)
- Okazaki has scored five goals in his last nine Premier League games, as many as he managed in his previous 51 in the competition
- Mahrez has had a hand in two goals in his last two Premier League games (1 goal, 1 assist), as many as in his previous 10 in the competition.
- Mahrez has had a hand in five Premier League goals against the Swans (4 goals, 1 assist); against no other side has the winger been involved in more goals in the competition (also 5 v West Brom)
- Jordan Ayew has been directly involved in more Premier League goals than any other current Swansea player since his debut in the competition in February 2017 (7 - 2 goals, 5 assists)
What's next?
Leicester host Leeds United in the fourth round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday at 19:45 BST. Swansea will look to bounce back at home to Manchester United in their EFL Cup fixture on the same night.
Line-ups
Swansea
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Fabianski
- 26Naughton
- 33Fernandez
- 6Mawson
- 16Olsson
- 35Renato SanchesSubstituted forRoutledgeat 78'minutes
- 7BrittonSubstituted forKi Sung-yuengat 45'minutes
- 14Carroll
- 11NarsinghSubstituted forDyerat 56'minutes
- 10Abraham
- 18J Ayew
Substitutes
- 4Ki Sung-yueng
- 5van der Hoorn
- 12Dyer
- 13Nordfeldt
- 15Routledge
- 17Clucas
- 22Rangel
Leicester
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Schmeichel
- 2Simpson
- 5Morgan
- 15Maguire
- 28FuchsBooked at 15mins
- 26MahrezSubstituted forGrayat 87'minutes
- 25Ndidi
- 21Iborra
- 11Albrighton
- 20OkazakiSubstituted forKingat 68'minutes
- 9Vardy
Substitutes
- 3Chilwell
- 7Gray
- 8Iheanacho
- 10King
- 12Hamer
- 18Amartey
- 19Slimani
- Referee:
- Michael Oliver
- Attendance:
- 20,521
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home56%
- Away44%
- Shots
- Home19
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away6
- Corners
- Home7
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Swansea City 1, Leicester City 2.
Post update
Attempt missed. Tom Carroll (Swansea City) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
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Attempt missed. Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Christian Fuchs.
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Foul by Nathan Dyer (Swansea City).
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Andy King (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Nathan Dyer (Swansea City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Attempt missed. Andy King (Leicester City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Jamie Vardy.
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Attempt missed. Wayne Routledge (Swansea City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Ki Sung-yueng.
Substitution
Substitution, Leicester City. Demarai Gray replaces Riyad Mahrez.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jordan Ayew (Swansea City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ki Sung-yueng.
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Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Vicente Iborra.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jordan Ayew (Swansea City) right footed shot from long range on the left is blocked.
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Offside, Leicester City. Andy King tries a through ball, but Jamie Vardy is caught offside.
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Attempt saved. Federico Fernández (Swansea City) header from the right side of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Tom Carroll with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Wes Morgan.
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Attempt blocked. Tom Carroll (Swansea City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Jordan Ayew (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Wes Morgan (Leicester City).
Substitution
Substitution, Swansea City. Wayne Routledge replaces Renato Sanches.
Comments
Join the conversation
Typical Leicester. The players get the manager sacked then they win a game. As for Swansea, Clement must go.
What a clown. So, Leicester do the wrong thing sacking their manager when playing badly. Get an improved performance with a less defensive display, presumably down to Appleton's instructions yet Swansea should sack their manager because they are playing badly. Fool
Clear for all to see!
Good result for Leicester.
We upset more than care to admit it with our league win, despite what a lot of people claim.
We upset most with our shooting up the table 2nd half of last season.
Let's hope we upset all you big girls blouses again this season.
It's nice for my club to mean so much to so many.
Onwards and upwards.
FTID
Fire Shakespeare, get a positive reaction from the players.
Wouldn't fancy being the next Leicester manager when things get tricky.
Bring back Claudio!!!