Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
GRAY DAWN FOR RODGERS
Brendan’s reign at Foxes is off to a losing start and it is now nought out of five for opening-game victories with new clubs
BRENDAN RODGERS suffered another sinking feeling as the vivid sunrise he planned at Leicester turned out to be a false dawn.
Poor old Rodgers has failed to win his first domestic game in charge at any of the five English clubs he has managed.
And Watford substitute Andre Gray’s winner in added time rubbed salt in his wounds in an unhappy return to the club who gave him his big break in management.
Just as the unlamented Marco Silva was booed and serenaded with refrains of, “Javi Gracia, he’s better than you” by home fans against Everton last month, Rodgers’ Vicarage Road visit ended in frustrating defeat.
Here was a reminder that, on its own, sacking Claude Puel will not cure Leicester’s soft centre overnight. Rodgers was a model of diplomacy, thanking Watford for handing him his first job and vowing never to criticise the Celtic fans who accused him of forsaking immortality for mediocrity.
But where it mattered most – on the pitch – Leicester came up short, long periods of domination counting for nothing after they conceded early and right at the death.
Ten years ago, Rodgers (right) was the Watford boss who bristled at reports linking him with a switch to Reading. “I always have integrity. I’m loyal and I find it disloyal when I’m asked about other clubs,” he protested. Days later, he was off to the Madejski. He now concedes the way he left was a “mistake”. And much of the cosmetic rivalry between these clubs, generated by Troy Deeney’s winner in the dramatic 2013 play-off semi-final, has also abated.
A banner unfurled by Hornets fans as a tribute to late Leicester owner Kun Vichai following October’s helicopter crash was warmly received.
But some grudges die hard, and Rodgers was lustily booed before kick-off. Adrian Mariappa, Watford’s sole survivor of Rodgers’ 193-day stopover, already had a glorious chance smothered by Kasper Schmeichel before the home side went in front inside five minutes.
Deeney bagged his eighth of the season with a glancing header from Gerard Deulofeu’s wicked freekick. But after Schmeichel blocked Abdoulaye Doucoure’s piledriver, Leicester worked their way back into the contest and deservedly equalised with 15 minutes to go.
Watford appealed in vain for the umpteenth time for a foul on Deeney and when the Foxes broke upfield, and Youri Tielemans split the defence with a perfectly-weighted pass, Jamie Vardy did the rest.
Deeney joked afterwards: “I gave Jon Moss a bit of stick as he didn’t give me one foul out of about 400. But it’s a tough job and I don’t care as long as we win.”
But when Wes Morgan headed wide a presentable chance, Watford seized their one.
Deeney’s fine reverse pass sent Gray into the box to net.
Watford fans could not give two hoots about Rodgers’ loyalty now.