BOXING DAY FOX SHUNT
Vardy helps stop Reds’ title-race momentum
EVERY Manchester United manager knows there is a downside to the club’s attack-at-all-costs mentality.
And Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took the Foxes’ late equaliser squarely on the chin as a price he had to pay as the Red Devi ls’ away- day bandwagon was stopped in its tracks.
Bruno Fernandes’ late goal appeared to have won the points – only for sub Alex Tuanzebe to deflect Jamie Vardy’s effort past David de Gea as the visitors were denied an 11th successive league win on their travels. It was a tough one to take for the Norwegian, but Leicester more than played their part in an absorbing contest between the two clubs currently on the tails of leaders Liverpool.
Solskjaer said: “With the chances we created, we expected to score goals. With the chances they created, I didn’t expect them to score more than they did.
“With their first, the pressure on the ball wasn’t good enough. With the second, we could have stopped the cross.
“But when you score as many as we do, you have to accept you are opened up from time to time. If you win 3-2, you’re happier than you are if it finishes 0-0.
“And Vardy is a quality striker. Sometimes with hi s movement you have a bit of luck that goes with it – and moments like this will happen. We felt we deserved more from the game.”
It was a triumph for Fernandes who added one more assist and one more goal to his tally. And for Marcus Rashford, too, who became only the fifth Englishman to
TUAN OF THOSE THINGS Vardy connects, but it goes in off Tuanzebe for equaliser hit the 50- goal mark for United in the Premier League.
The Portuguese reacted swiftly, sticking out a leg to push a half- hit Daniel James cross into Rashford’s path to open the scoring.
But Leicester refused to lie down.
Fernandes was the culprit as the ball was lost 30 yards from goal, Wil fred Ndidi w inn ing possession, with James Maddison picking up the ball and feeding Harvey Barnes. The recently capped
England international switched the ball from right foot to left and let fly from 25 yards, the ball flying past De Gea.
Then Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel saved magnificently as Rashford streaked clear.
And Fernandes appeared to have atoned for his error when sub Edinson Cavani fed him for the playmaker to score his 10th Premier League goal of the campaign.
But Ayoze Perez made a nuisance of himself and his persistence allowed Vardy to escape his markers and find a finishing touch that was diverted off Axel Tuanzebe past De Gea for the leveller.
Solskjaer added: “Bruno is definitely a player who impacts results. He creates chances, scores goals and takes risks, which any Man U player should be able to.
“He sees difficult passes. Sometimes you see an easier one, but you can’t take that away from him. He’s got that X factor. I’ve been very pleased with his influence this year. He’s always supporting his team-mates as well.
“As for Marcus, he’s been brilliant, both as a player and a person. We are very proud of him as a human being. His stats say everything about his qualities.”
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers was equally as happy with his own talisman, Vardy. The Foxes gave as good as they got and played a full part in what was a no-holds-barred scrap, although it was Vardy’s eye for a goal that ultimately earned them a point.
Rodgers said: “That’s why Jamie is one of the best – his concentration level – he’ll always be in and around the box. He has a football brain. He knows where it’s going to drop and then he’s there to finish it.
“I thought it was the least we deserved.”
Both managers, then, left with gripes. But it was difficult to escape the conclusion that the real winners were Premier League leaders Liverpool.