Wolves get out-foxed by Leicester even as Vardy sees red again
IT WAS all going so well for Wolves. With the half-hour approaching, Nuno Espirito Santo’s newly promoted, albeit expensively assembled, side was dominating Leicester City. Indeed, with a bit of luck, they could have been three goals to the good. Bathed in east Midlands sunshine, the noisy pocket of old gold in the corner of the King Power Stadium launched into song, proclaiming that their team was the greatest the world has ever seen. Premier League? They were having a laugh.
It did not last, and Wolves’ hurt was largely self-inflicted, on an afternoon which saw Leicester striker Jamie Vardy pick up some pain of his own when he saw red for a dangerous challenge in the second half.
On 29 minutes, with the chants of the Wolves fans fading, Diogo Jota committed his first dire error, dallying on the ball midway inside his own half. Worse was to follow from a team-mate when Marc Albrighton crossed and Matt Doherty, who had earlier missed a glorious chance to put Wolves in front, this time made no mistake with a bullet header, but past his own goalkeeper.
Then, with half-time approaching, Jota got careless again. This time Leicester’s Ricardo Pereira picked up the loose ball and raced downfield. Seconds later James Maddison, making his home debut, struck a curling shot from the edge of the area that Rui Patricio, in the visitors’ goal, may well have saved.
Again luck was not smiling on the men from the Black Country. Maddison’s shot took a deflection off Conor Coady which took it past the wrongfooted keeper. ‘A dream come true,’ reflected Maddison, a £22million arrival from Norwich City.
That is life in the top flight encapsulated. Take your chances and do not lose the ball in dangerous areas. The Wolves were aggressive but the cunning Foxes had the know-how.
Regardless, this was a harsh afternoon for Wanderers. With Leicester’s £3.5m signing Jonny Evans struggling on debut, albeit with little help from makeshift full-back Ricardo, the visitors bossed the opening exchanges.
Joao Moutinho crashed a first- time shot against the bar from the edge of the area before, following an error from the Evans, Raul Jimenez pulled back for Doherty, whose goal-bound shot was brilliantly blocked by Ben Chilwell inside the six-yard box.
On 20 minutes — and with Evans continuing to struggle to find his feet — the impressive Jimenez struck a post with a fierce shot from 25 yards out which had Kasper Schmeichel beaten.
After half-time, and Jota’s exit, Wolves pressed with little joy as Leicester switched to three centre-backs. Hope arrived on 66 minutes in the shape of Vardy’s red. There can be no denying that the England man got to the ball before Doherty. His follow-through, however, sent the Wolves defender crashing to the turf.
It was very much a modernday dismissal. Two decades ago it would have been applauded but the game has moved on and this was dangerous. There is also little by the way of mitigation. Since 2015-2016, no Premier League player has picked up more red cards than Vardy’s three. An injured Doherty was substituted to cap a miserable afternoon for the Irishman.
‘I think perhaps it’s a little tough because it was not his intention to make a foul,’ said Claude Puel, Leicester’s manager. ‘He was too enthusiastic. It’s a pity.’
Before kick-off, and following a run of just four points from 24 in the Premier League, Puel was the bookies’ favourite to become the first top-flight managerial casualty of the season. The victory was welcome but the loss of Vardy will hurt. Puel hinted that he will not appeal the three-match ban, suggesting it is an opportunity for someone else.
With a numerical advantage Jonny Castro Otto made it a hattrick of woodwork rattles with a close-range volley after cutting inside Ricardo, but Wolves could not find a way through.
‘We started very well — we were totally in control,’ Nuno said. ‘We should have scored. We had chances to do it. After the red card, we should have done more.’
Wolves had shown again that they should have enough to avoid the drop. They will, however, have to learn the lessons from brutal afternoons like this, and quickly. Next up? Manchester City.
LEICESTER CITY (4-2-3-1): Schmeichel 6; Ricardo 6, Evans 5, Maguire 6.5, Chilwell 6.5; Mendy 7, Ndidi 7; Albrighton 7 (Amartey 59min), Maddison 7.5 (Iheanacho 82), Gray 7 (Silva 81); Vardy 5. Booked: Evans, Maguire. Sent off: Vardy (66min). Subs (not used): Morgan, Ward, Fuchs, Ghezzal. WOLVES (3-4-3): Patricio 6; Bennett 6, Coady 6, Boly 6; Doherty 6 (Gibbs-White 69, 5), Moutinho 6.5, Neves 6.5, Otto 6.5; Jota 5 (Traore 46, 6), Jiminez 7, Costa 5.5 (Bonatini 46, 5.5). Booked: Gibbs-White. Subs (not used): Ruddy, Saiss, Vinagre, Hause. referee: M Dean 8.