VARDY VERDICT: HE’S TWO GOOD

JAMIE VARDY slammed in a brace as Leicester turned jeers to cheers at the King Power Stadium.

Brendan Rodgers (below) and his side were booed off at the break as they struggled to get past relegated Norwich.

But two second-half goals from Vardy and a further strike from James Maddison against his former club earned the Foxes their first win in eight games in all competitions.

The hosts started brightly against Dean Smith’s Canaries, who were indebted to several good saves from Angus Gunn to keep them level at the break.

In the 11th minute, the keeper made a brilliant one-handed save to deny Vardy after initially failing to hold Maddison’s shot.

Gunn also made another good save from Maddison’s fierce effort from the edge of the box.

But Norwich were a threat on the break with Teemu Pukki being denied by Kasper Schmeichel in the 13th minute.

Gunn made his best save in the 27th minute as he stretched out a long leg to deny Ademola Lookman a certain goal. But Norwich could have gone in ahead when Canaries debutant Tony Springett sent Pukki clear.

The Finnish striker drilled in a low rightfoot shot in the 45th minute but it smacked back off the post as the hosts lost their way.

There were also ironic cheers earlier in the half when Leicester, who have conceded the most Premier League goals from corners, survived Norwich’s first flag kick.

Foxes fans finally burst into life in the 54th minute when the recalled Vardy scored his first goal in more than two months.

The striker collected Harvey Barnes’ pass, drove into the box and saw a right-foot shot loop up off Canaries centre-half Grant Hanley and over Gunn.

But if his opener was lucky,

Vardy’s 14th of the season in the 62nd minute was class as he raced on to Barnes’ latest pass and buried a first-time left-foot shot high into the net.

Maddison (below, celebrating) got on the scoresheet in the 70th minute with a rasping left-foot shot after Gunn parried Kiernan Dewsbury-hall’s cross-shot.

The scoreline was harsh on Gunn, but was at least better than his final Premier League appearance for Southampton in their 9-0 home loss to the Foxes in

October 2019

VARD WORK Jamie Vardy slides home his second goal as Leicester eased to the three points