THINGS WE LEARNT

THE chairman of the non-league club that launched Jamie Vardy’s career has revealed that his wife screams every time the Leicester striker scores.

Vardy (below, celebrating) became the 29th player to score 100 Premier League goals with a double against Crystal Palace.

And 78-year-old Allen Bethel (above), who was chairman at Stocksbridge Park Steels for 38 years until he retired last year, hailed him as a “total one-off”.

Bethel said: “My wife screams when Vardy scores – and my wife hates football.

“There hasn’t been anyone like him who has come from nowhere, come from non-league into a position like he is now. He’s a total one-off. I feel very proud of his achievements. I am a Vardy fan, I always have been.

“He’s taken it in his stride and I am very pleased – on behalf of all at the club I now represent indirectly – that he is still at his best.”

BURNLEY are the only team in the Premier League’s top 10 with a negative goal difference – a statistic not helped by their slow starts this season. James Tarkowski’s opener yesterday was just the fourth time in the past 21 league games that they have scored in the first half.

BRUNO FERNANDES is keeping good company. With six goals and five assists at Man United, he past 10 goal involvements in his ninth Premier League game. He is joint quickest to 10 goals and assists combined at the club with Eric Cantona and Robin van Persie.

OLIVIER GIROUD is trying to give boss Frank Lampard a headache for next season. Giroud (above) appeared to have gone off the boil in front of goal for Chelsea, scoring just three in 38 Premier League games between April 2018 and February this year, leading to talk of a move abroad.

He is 34 in September and just signed a one-year extension. Four goals in his last seven league games has given Lampard food for thought.

With Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech arriving at Stamford Bridge soon, and Tammy Abraham netting 13 this term, the competition for places in attack is hotting up.