Vardy can join the party now
JAMIE VARDY and his wife Rebekah had the best seats in the house at the Highbury Stadium.
And Fleetwood’s fans couldn’t have been happier to give him the red-carpet treatment after his brief, but spectacular stint when the tiny Lancashire club were non-league and in the Conference Premier division.
But as much as the Cod Army felt cheated that they couldn’t salute their former hero (above, with Rebekah) on the pitch where he electrified them six years ago, they felt much safer seeing him in chairman Andy Pilley’s executive box.
In fact, Fleetwood were so secure facing a Leicester side without Vardy they easily earned an FA Cup third round replay at the King Power Stadium with a muchdeserved 0-0 draw on the Lancashire coast.
Uwe Rosler’s League One stars not only nullified Leicester’s threat, but nearly won the game with the last kick.
Little wonder that Rosler later revealed he has January bids on the table for three of his star men.
If Claude Puel’s team-sheet wasn’t enough of a present, Fleetwood sponsors Papa John’s promised a year’s supply of pizza for goalkeeper Chris Neal if he kept a clean sheet. And with Leicester – Premier League Champions two seasons ago – not managing to muster a shot on target it was the easiest prize Neal’s ever earned.
Vardy’s groin injury kept him out of action yesterday, as Foxes boss Puel (left) made eight changes.
That backfired as Leicester toiled painfully without the attacking creativity of Riyad Mahrez and Shinji Okazaki – and also substitute Marc Albrighton, who appeared in the second half.
Reserve striker Islam Slimani – at £29million worth way more than Fleetwood’s ground and playing squad put together – was shockingly ineffective while Demarai Gray simply disappeared.
Puel cited a heavy schedule of nine games in 28 days, tired players and big matches to come as a defence of Leicester’s lifeless display.
But that shouldn’t detract from a confident display by young Fleetwood stars such as Ashley Hunter and Devante Cole.
Man of the match Markus Schwabl and centrebacks Cian Bolger and Nathan Pond – a 15th-minute replacement for injured Ashley Eastham – didn’t give an inch.
And a glorious victory was so nearly Fleetwood’s in the closing seconds when Hunter’s low drive deflected off Yohan Benalouane and hit the post twice before keeper Eldin Jakupovic finally grabbed the ball.
A place in the fourth round wouldn’t have been undeserved either.
But you sense that Vardy might just have the last word now.