He Manchester City gave Pep Guardiola some relief with a 2-0 win at Leicester to secure just a second win in 14 games for the crisis-hit English champions on Sunday.
Savinho and Erling Haaland They struck either side of half-time as City ended a run of eight away games without a win.
The performance was still far from the standards Guardiola’s team has set to win four consecutive English top-flight titles.
But the effusive celebrations of Haaland’s header 16 minutes from time showed that three points was all that mattered for the visitors to at least temporarily halt their notable slump.
The victory lifts City to fifth place, but they are still 11 points behind leaders Liverpool, who have two games in hand.
The defeat leaves Leicester still rooted in the bottom three.
Guardiola made just one change in the 1-1 Boxing Day draw against Everton as Kevin De Bruyne replaced fellow Belgian international Jeremy Doku.
De Bruyne’s fitness struggles have played a part in City’s slump and he immediately showed what Guardiola’s men have been missing for most of the season.
Rico Lewis picked out De Bruyne, who padded a cross into the path of Haaland, but his low effort was well saved by Leicester substitute goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk.
Leicester have lost their last four games after a bright start under Ruud van Nistelrooy’s reign.
The foxes were left wanting not to risk inflicting more misery on a side of town that still shows a distinct lack of confidence.
Every time the home team crossed into City territory in the first half, they looked like a major threat.
Jamie Vardy would surely have won a penalty had he not strayed offside before being brought down by Stefan Ortega, while James Justin’s header hit the post after a goalmouth scramble.
City, however, got the crucial opening goal inside 21 minutes.
Stolarczyk should have done better than parry Phil Foden’s long-range effort into the path of Savinho, who swept the rebound into the roof of the net for his first City goal.
Chances continued to come and go for Leicester early in the second half.
Justin should have leveled but his poor close-range strike allowed Manuel Akanji to clear the line.
Vardy then had the best chance to level when he poked in Stephy Mavididi’s brilliant cross.
However, they were hit by a City wind blow to end the defending champions’ miserable run on the road.
Savinho was the creator this time as his cross picked out perfectly for Haaland, who drove home his 19th of the season ending his four-game drought.
