Vardy and Barnes pile pressure on Smith
While Brendan Rodgers and Leicester City are on course for the Champions League, Aston Villa are heading inexorably for the Championship. The taunts of “going down” echoed around a wet and windy King Power Stadium, and it was impossible to argue after a thoroughly lopsided Midlands derby, with Villa head coach Dean Smith now under serious pressure.
Leicester had not won in the league since Jan 22, raising fears over dropping out of the top four, but this was an emphatic victory.
Jamie Vardy’s first league goals in just under 11 hours, and a brace from the outstanding Harvey Barnes, extended Leicester’s advantage in third place as Villa were ruthlessly swept aside.
It was a dreadful night for Smith and his players, with goalkeeper Pepe Reina setting the tone with an appalling error for the first goal late in the first half, and their hopes of avoiding relegation appear forlorn.
They remain two points adrift of safety, and Smith’s position appears fragile.
Scrutiny will also continue over the influence of Jesus Garcia Pitarch, the club’s sporting director, following a transfer spend of more than £135million this season.
It does not get any easier, with games against Chelsea, Wolves, Liverpool and Manchester United to follow.
“It was a very tough night,” Smith said. “We wanted a reaction from the cup final and to say it’s been disappointing is an understatement.
“We’re being punished massively at the moment for mistakes and games are running out. Confidence can be harmed by a result like this and it’s my job to make sure it doesn’t. We all know the damage that would be caused by this club being relegated.”
Leicester had been beaten by Villa in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup and were clearly on a revenge mission, attacking from both flanks with pace and aggression. They should have killed off the game long before half-time.
The pressure on Villa was relentless, with Jonny Evans’s header saved by Reina, before Caglar Soyuncu headed over another deliciously inviting corner from James Maddison.
A goal was inevitable and it finally came in the 40th minute. Marc Albrighton’s brilliant pass released Barnes and, with Reina dashing out of his area, the Leicester winger flicked the ball past him and then advanced towards goal before driving into the empty net.
It was a huge error of judgment by Reina, who had also been suspect in Villa’s 2-0 defeat at Southampton last month.
“Pepe’s had a rush of blood, he’s come out to a ball he’s not going to get,” Smith said. “People make mistakes. He’ll probably be the first to admit it was a mistake at that time, but there were other things we could do to stop that goal.”
Leicester had the luxury of introducing Vardy on the hour, after the striker missed the previous two games with a calf injury.
His presence in the area immediately unsettled Villa, with Tyrone Mings moving to clear a Barnes cross with what appeared to be his shoulder. There was a check from the video assistant referee, and Vardy’s long wait for a goal was over from the penalty spot, with his first touch of the night.
Vardy added his 19th goal of the season in the 80th minute with an excellent instinctive finish, lashing the ball home on the half-volley.
Barnes added the fourth with another fine goal, and must surely be in contention for a place in the England senior squad.
Leicester’s fans were chanting about European tours long before the final whistle. They are now eight points clear of Manchester United in fifth place.
“This result is very important,” Rodgers said. “We played it like a cup final and we’ve got nine cup finals left. Both teams needed to win for different reasons, but our desire and quality has seen us through.
“We want to look forward, we don’t look on the negative side. We have a great spirit and honesty.”
Leicester City (4-1-4-1) Schmeichel 6; Pereira 7, Evans 7, Soyuncu 7, Justin 7; Ndidi 7 (Mendy 83); Albrighton 7, Praet 7 (Tielemans 76), Maddison 7, Barnes 8; Iheanacho 6 (Vardy 59). Subs Ward (g), Morgan, Fuchs, Perez. Booked Praet, Evans.
Aston Villa (4-5-1) Reina 3; Guilbert 3, Engels 4, Mings 4, Targett 4; Elmohamady 4 (El Ghazi 63), Douglas Luiz 4, Nakamba 5, Hourihane 5 (Davis 67), Grealish 5; Samatta 4. Subs Nyland (g), Konsa, Taylor, Drinkwater, Trezeguet. Booked Hourihane.
Referee Michael Oliver (Northumberland).