FOXES ARE UP FUR IT

Rodgers’ men turning on the style again

by Palace fans on account of his wife Rebekah’s Twitter spat with Coleen Rooney, and yet had the perfect response late on.

The former England striker poached the second goal – he has plundered 19 since Rodgers took charge last February, then taunted those Palace fans, by flapping his arms about like an eagle – the south London club’s mascot.

It was typical Vardy and it is what he does best, thrive on anything and everything to spur himself on.

Gareth Southgate’s No.2 Steve Holland was in the crowd and how England must wish Vardy had not retired from international football.

Leicester now zip it about brilliantly with two of the best attacking full-backs in the business – Ricardo Pereira and Ben Chilwell (above, top) – and options in attack to support Vardy plus James Maddison strutting about as if he owned the pitch in the No.10 role.

Palace defended well but had little to offer in return, although Leicester did find it difficult to find a way through.

Chilwell’s flick to Maddison, whose brilliant pass set Vardy clear, was their best first-half opening but Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita saved well. Leicester defender Jonny Evans (above) forced Guaita into a brilliant tip over as the visitors stepped up the pressure after halftime, and another Maddison corner brought the opener after 57 minutes.

Maddison’s kick was inadvertently flicked on by Patrick van Aanholt and Soyuncu showed great agility as he repositioned himself to head powerfully home from close range.

From then on, the outcome never looked in doubt. Palace showed some fight but created little as Wilfried Zaha tried hard but met a good match in Pereira. Leicester even showed they are ready to mix it as Evans was booked for a brutal foul on Cheikhou Kouyate.

As Palace ran out of steam, Leicester looked increasingly dangerous. Two minutes from time, substitute Demarai Gray broke into the Palace box, cut the ball back for Vardy and the striker steered the ball in.

Leicester are on the march, they will take some stopping and they can cement their place in the top four next weekend as Arsenal are the visitors to the King Power Stadium. No one will fancy going there these days.

Jamie Vardy Tammy Abraham Sergio Aguero P-E Aubameyang Raheem Sterling Harry Kane Sadio Mane Teemu Pukki Marcus Rashford Mo Salah

laugh with his 19th goal of Rodgers’ nine-month reign. Leicester boss Rodgers (below right with Vardy) said of the abuse he gets: “He’s so thick skinned. That only makes him better. He’ll not shrivel up. “He’s very concentrated in his game, very focused. He’s a striker who is very rarely offside because of the timing of his runs. You have to be so clever and bright to do that. He’s playing so well, like all of them.” Rodgers’ side are up to third and are well ahead of the established big guns like Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United and Leicester are determined to stay there. “The team’s playing well. But we’re not getting carried away. “I’m not going to trap the players with pressure to think of anything other than playing. They’ve been absolutely brilliant since I came in,” said Rodgers. “They’re hungry to learn. First-class. The spirit’s very good. “We’re trying to create something here that we can sustain. “Let’s work and try and get better. We’re in a good place but there’s a long way to go.” Palace manager Roy Hodgson said: “It was a relatively even game. I couldn’t have asked a lot more from the Palace team than they gave. “What they carry is a very clear goal threat with Jamie Vardy.”