Vardy sees red but Foxes still see off Wolves
Jamie Vardy was sent off on his return to the Leicester side, but the Foxes still eased earlyseason pressure on manager Claude Puel with a win over newlypromoted Wolves.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side hit the woodwork three times, before succumbing to a 2-0 defeat at the King Power Stadium. An own goal from fullback Matt Doherty and a deflected effort from home debutant James Maddison were enough to secure the points for Leicester – who saw out the closing stages having lost Vardy following an ugly challenge on the unfortunate Doherty. Wolves were lively from the start and had two marvellous chances to take the lead inside the opening four minutes. Joao Moutinho came within inches of a maiden goal for the club, cracking a strike against the crossbar. While the game settled down into an even contest, it was the visitors creating any chances of note – Jimenez rattling Kasper Schmeichel’s post with a driven effort. Unsurprisingly, it was a Wolves player who opened the scoring, but sadly for Doherty, he put it into his own goal. The goal turned the game in favour of Puel’s men and they doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time. New recruit Ricardo Pereira cut in from the right and was fouled but, with referee Mike Dean allowing the advantage, Maddison collected the ball and bent home past Patricio with the aid of a deflection. Leicester’s task of seeing out the game was made more difficult as Vardy was given his marching orders with 66 minutes on the clock, but the Foxes held on for a vital three-point haul. Elsehwehre, West Ham United’s expensively assembled squad crashed to a second straight loss after Bournemouth came from behind to win 2-1. Manuel Pellegrini’s first taste of the London Stadium ended in frustration as goals from Callum Wilson and Steve Cook made it two wins from two for the Cherries. The West Ham board may have splashed out on nine new players over the summer, but on this evidence it does not guarantee results. West Ham were looking the more threatening early on and the pressure told after the 33rd minute when Felipe Anderson found Javier Hernandez on the edge of the sixyard box, with the striker adjudged to have been fouled by Nathan Ake. Arnautovic stepped up and drilled his shot low past Begovic. The warning signs were there for the hosts, though. David Brooks should have equalised, but headed weakly wide. Then, on the hour mark, Wilson shrugged off numerous challenges, before rolling in his fifth goal in five appearances against the Hammers. Five minutes later Ryan Fraser’s free-kick, saw Cook thump a header past Fabianski.