VARDY’S BACK WITH A BANG
Drought ends in Foxes romp
JAMIE VARDY rediscovered his goal-scoring touch as Leicester destroyed West Brom to set up a mouth-watering finale to a memorable season.
Brendan Rodgers’ side returned to action after reaching the FA Cup final by beating Southampton on Sunday.
And there was no let up whatsoever as City kept their foot on the accelerator to stay on course for a top-four finish too.
Rampant Leicester were three goals to the good at the break against 19th-placed West Brom, whose recent revival scarcely seemed believable on this evidence.
Perhaps Albion should have known they were in for a torrid night when Mbaye Diagne managed an astonishing air-shot early on.
Vardy showed no sign of rustiness, though, his clinical finish opening the scoring in the 23rd minute.
Former Baggies defender Jonny Evans headed a quick-fire second before in-form Kelechi Iheanacho also notched in the first half.
It could have been even worse for Albion, who are nine points from safety with a shocking goal difference and look doomed.
Yet Leicester appear set for Champions League qualification as they consolidated third. They almost took the lead in the second minute when Iheanacho did well to rob a dithering Conor Townsend.
The in-form striker raced clear on goal but took a heavy touch which allowed keeper Sam Johnstone to force him wide.
Iheanacho then had a shot which Johnstone did well to block.
But West Brom also had a superb early chance when Matheus Pereira picked out Diagne from Matt Phillips’ cross.
Yet the Senegal forward, who has two goals since joining on loan in January from Galatasaray, missed the ball completely with his effort.
Albion were made to pay a heavy price as Leicester then scored twice in quick succession.
First Vardy ran on to Timothy Castagne’s unselfish lay-off from Youri Tielemans’ defence-splitting pass to end an 11-game drought. The striker buried a first-time finish trap.
The Foxes doubled their lead three minutes later when Evans charged in at the back post to head in Tielemans’ corner, which was helped on inadvertently off Phillips.
With Albion losing their heads in a torrid spell, Castagne also lashed a shot against the post.
But Iheanacho netted the third in the 36th minute with a composed close-range finish from Vardy’s excellent run and cut-back.
It was the striker’s 13th goal of 2021 – second to only Harry Kane, who has 15.
Unimpressed Albion
Sam Allardyce sent on
Semi Ajayi at the break.
His side improved but never looked capable of salvaging anything and it was just damage limitation.
LEICESTER (3-4-1-2): Schmeichel 7; Fofana 8 (Albrighton 62, 6), Evans 8, Soyuncu 7; Castagne 7, Ndidi 7, Tielemans 9, Thomas 7; Maddison 7 (Perez 72); Iheanacho 8, Vardy 8 (Praet 85). Goals: Vardy 23, Evans 26, Iheanacho 36.
WEST BROM (4-2-3-1): Johnstone 6; Furlong 6, O’Shea 6, Bartley 5, Townsend 5; Yokuslu 5, Maitland-Niles 6; Phillips 6, Pereira 6 (Grant 73), Robinson 5 (Ajayi 46, 6); Diagne 3 (Robson-Kanu 62, 6). after beating the offside manager defender