Punch & Jamie
STRIKER GIVES HIMSELF A SLAP...THEN SCORES TWICE
JAMIE VARDY got Leicester’s bid for a Premier League return back on track – following arguably the worst miss of his career.
The ex-england striker, 36, punched himself in the face after shockingly volleying over from just four yards with the goal at his mercy.
But the sub delivered the knockout blow, converting on the rebound in the 76th minute and then blasted in an injurytime penalty as Leicester bounced back from two straight losses.
And boss Enzo Maresca said: “Jamie’s scored goals all his life, and he will continue to do that. It’s in his blood. He missed a chance but was there again. That’s the important thing.
“You can miss, miss, miss, but in the end, you want to find a goal. The way he behaved is how he is a leader and how he wants to win games. This is important.”
For 75 minutes Leicester, without the suspended Harry Winks, were frustrated by a limited Watford.
Kiernan Dewsbury-hall was denied by Daniel Bachmann before firing wide after a clever free-kick routine with Kasey Mcateer, who then saw a header kept out by Bachmann from Dewsbury-hall’s cross.
The Foxes continued to be thwarted at the start of the second half as Stephy Mavididi missed in front of goal from Kelechi Iheanacho’s cross.
Vardy and Abdul Fatawu came on as early subs and the pair combined with the former blazing over from a good position.
Jannik Vestegaard then headed over from Ricardo Pereira’s cross before Vardy’s barely believable 74th-minute miss. But you cannot keep a good man down.
And Vardy was on hand to net just two minutes later as he converted after Bachmann had saved Vestegaard’s header from Dewsbury-hall’s free kick.
Watford came close to an equaliser as Ryan Porteous surged forward but shot straight at Mads Hermansen.
And deep into injury time, Bachmann fouled Vardy in the area resulting in a penalty and a second yellow card for the keeper. Porteous went in goal for the spot-kick but could do nothing to stop Vardy’s power and the Hornets’ six game unbeaten run was over.
Watford boss Valerien Ismael felt Vardy should have been sent off. He had already been booked when he clattered Wesley Hoedt in the 83rd minute.
And Ismael said: “He was very lucky, it’s a clear foul on Hoedt.
“Vardy scored a second goal, but it’s no good speaking about what ifs. We knew we wouldn’t get many chances, so we needed to be more ruthless.” LEICESTER: Hermansen 6; Pereira 7, Faes 7, Vestergaard 7, Justin 6; Choudhury 6, Ndidi 6 (Casadei (64) 6), Dewsbury-hall 8 (Akgun (84) 6); Mcateer 6 (Fatawu (56) 6), Iheanacho 6 (Vardy (55) 8), Mavididi 6 WATFORD: Bachmann 5; Andrews 6, Porteous 7, Hoedt 7, Lewis 6 (Martins (84) 6); Livermore 6 (Kone (56) 6), Kayembe 6, Louza 6 (Chakvetadze (56) 6); Ince 5 (Asprilla (84) 6), Rajovic 5 (Bayo (67) 6), Sema 6 STAR MAN: Jamie Vardy – Veteran striker was Leicester’s two-goal hero after a truly dreadful miss.
Sam Allison 6