Vardy brace lifts gloom for Rodgers
JAMIE VARDY slammed in a brace as Leicester turned jeers to cheers at the King Power Stadium.
Brendan Rodgers’ side were booed off at the break as they struggled to get past relegated Norwich.
But two second-half goals from Vardy and a further strike from James Maddison against his old club earned Leicester their first win in eight games in all competitions.
The hosts started brightly against Norwich, who were indebted to several good saves from Angus Gunn to keep them level at the break.
In the 11th minute the keeper made a brilliant one-handed save to deny Vardy after failing to hold Maddison’s shot.
Gunn made his best save in the 27th minute as he stretched out a long leg to deny Ademola Lookman a certain goal.
But Norwich could have gone in ahead when Canaries debutant Tony Springett sent Teemu Pukki clear, only for the Finnish striker to send a low shot on to the post as the hosts lost their way. The home fans finally burst into life in the 54th minute when the recalled Vardy scored his first goal in over two months.
The striker collected Harvey Barnes’ pass, drove into the box and saw a shot loop up off Grant Hanley and over Gunn.
But if his opener was lucky, Vardy’s 14th of the season in the 62nd minute was class as he raced on to Barnes’ latest pass and buried a first-time left-foot shot high into the net.
Maddison got on the scoresheet in the 70th minute with a rasping shot after Gunn parried Kiernan Dewsbury Hall’s cross-shot.
The scoreline was harsh on Gunn but was at least better than his final Premier League appearance for Southampton in a 9-0 home loss to the Foxes in October 2019.
LEICESTER (4-3-3): Schmeichel 7; Castagne 7, Amartey 7, Evans 7, Justin 7; Maddison 8, Tielemans 7, Dewsbury-Hall 7; Lookman 6 (Mendy 46, 7), Vardy 8, Barnes 7. Goals: Vardy 54, 62, Maddison 70. NORWICH (4-3-3): Gunn 8; Aarons 6, Hanley 6, Byram 6, Giannoulis 5; Gilmour 6, Lees-Melou 6, Rupp 5 (Sorensen 58, 6); Springett (Placheta 67, 6), Pukki, Rashica (Rowe 67, 6).