VARDY’S THE
FA CUP FIFTH-ROUND ACTION Owls fan Jamie is on song to blunt Blades
SHEFFIELD lad Jamie Vardy struck a 66th-minute goal to hit back at the chants from United’s travelling fans. The England striker, once on the books at Steel City rivals Sheffield Wednesday, showed his class to head Leicester into the FA Cup quarter-finals. And what a beauty it was from the boyhood Owls fan. He timed his intervention to perfection to nod home a sublime cross from Riyad Mahrez at the far post to see off the Blades. Vardy waited as it curled over towards him and did exactly what was required by dropping a perfectly-weighted header into the far corner of the net. Early on, Vardy was given goodnatured chants of ‘Wednesday reject’ from the Blades fans – but he had the final word. United almost hit back immediately when Kasper Schmeichel made a superb diving save to keep out George Baldock’s shot which looked destined for the bottom corner. Leicester tried to test the water early on as both Demarai Gray and Kelechi Iheanacho sent shots woefully wide.
But in the 16th minute, they came within inches of taking the lead as Gray went on a searing run to the edge of the Blades’ box.
He shunted the ball across to Vardy, whose curling shot flew inches wide.
A few minutes later, United’s resolve was tested again as Wilfred Ndidi’s 25-yarder forced Jamal Blackman to go full tilt to his left to palm the ball away.
Both sides made six changes – with Leicester welcoming the chance to give skipper Wes Morgan a run out and the Championship side mindful of mounting a serious promotion push.
Mahrez was back in the starting line-up for the home side for the first time since his much-publicised disappearing act after the collapse of his move to Manchester City.
He must have been wondering what kind of reaction he’d get from Foxes’ fans and would have been warmed by the response at his very first touch.
And he gave them something to savour