FOX ON THE TON
JAMIE VARDY finally smashed through the Premier League 100-goal barrier to rejuvenate Leicester’s Champions League bid.
Boss Brendan Rodgers went with Vardy and the recalled Kelechi Iheanacho up front together.
His bold tactics paid off as sorry Crystal Palace were sent packing in a dire second half for the visitors.
Iheanacho (right) opened the scoring following the break before Vardy’s late brace sealed a comfortable win after sub Harvey Barnes made a big impact.
Victory was a huge relief to third-placed Leicester, whose Champions League hopes had been slipping.
And after waiting since March to smash through three figures in the top flight,
Vardy couldn’t have wished for a simpler goal following Mamadou Sakho’s costly slip.
The former England striker then added another in stoppage time with a cool right-foot finish for his 21st Premier League goal this term and his 101st in total.
It is the latest feat for Vardy, 33, after his remarkable journey from factory worker in non-league to title winner.
To pass the landmark after only first playing in the top flight since 2014 is phenomenal.
Now, next season the striker will also hope to get a chance to add to his Champions League tally, too.
Manchester United are on Leicester’s tail, but this win keeps the hunting pack at bay.
They deserved the points after dominating from the start and might have led at the break, had Iheanacho not headed wide and James Justin been denied by the woodwork.
Palace did not have a single effort on target in the opening 45 minutes and looked like a side happy to have already secured survival.
Leicester’s England defender Ben Chilwell was unable to continue for the second half after ankle trouble.
He was replaced by Ryan Bennett for his debut, on loan from Wolves, as the hosts switched to a back three.
Leicester continued on the offensive after the restart as Vardy flashed a header wide.
They broke the deadlock in the 49th minute after the impressive Youri Tielemans rolled a superb left-foot ball across the six-yard box. There was Iheanacho running in to find the back of the net with a close-range, rightfoot effort for his 10th goal this season after also netting as a sub in the midweek defeat at Everton.
Vardy made it 2-0 in 77th minute when Sakho’s shocking slip in his own box allowed Barnes to square to give the hitman a tap-in.
He then netted again in stoppage time with a rightfoot finish after Barnes sent him free.
Palace were really poor as even skipper Luka Milivojevic’s set-pieces failed to cause much trouble.
While dangerman Wilfried Zaha, who had scored three times on his two previous successful trips to the King Power Stadium, was well shackled.