Pearson’s praise for ace Vardy
NIGEL PEARSON admitted he had “tears in his eyes” after making an emotional return to Leicester for the first time since being sacked in 2015.
But Jamie Vardy made sure there would be no celebration for Pearson – the manager who started the Foxes legend’s King Power career 11 years ago.
Robins boss Pearson made Vardy the first £1million non-league player when he signed him from Fleetwood in 2012. And it was Vardy who proved to be the match-winner as he fired home a 67th-minute penalty after Kal Naismith had brought down Wilfred Ndidi.
It was a goal that lifted the mood among the home fans after the Robins had threatened to frustrate Enzo Maresca’s side.
Vardy was the only player left in Leicester’s starting line-up from Pearson’s spell in charge.
Pearson said: “Whatever people think of Jamie, to still have the winning mentality he has at this stage of his career, is something that we should acknowledge.”
But, despite the result, Pearson admitted he was touched by the reception he got at the King Power Stadium.
He added: “I can’t deny I had tears in my eyes, because it’s really good to see people again.
“It means a lot. My family were here, my dad too because he used to love coming here and then going out for a smoke at half-time. He’s 89.
“And it’s very touching to receive the respect I got shown.”
Maresca’s outfit sealed a seventh league win of the season to go back to the top of the table. The Foxes boss said: “We struggled to find a goal – but I was absolutely not worried.”
LEICESTER: Hermansen 6; Pereira 7, Faes 7, Vestergaard 7, Doyle 5 (Justin, (45) 7); Ndidi 8 (Casadei (87) 6), Winks 7, Dewsbury-hall 7; Fatawu 7 (Mcateer (76) 6), Vardy 7 (Iheanacho (87) 5), Mavididi 7 BRISTOL CITY: O’leary 7; Tanner 6, Dickie 6, Naismith 5, Pring 6, James 6, Williams 5 (Gardner-hickman (58) 6); Sykes 5 (Yeboah (58) 6), Knight 6 (Mehmeti (87) 5), Bell 5 (Weimann (58) 5); Wells 5 (Cornick (74) 5) STAR MAN: Wilfred Ndidi – A non-stop performance for Leicester and earned the match-winning penalty. REF: James Bell 7