VARDY’S A FOX ON THE PROWL
STRIKER Jamie Vardy slammed in a double 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 the Foxes 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 stop to deny Vardy after the keeper couldn’t hold Maddison’s shot.
Gunn also made another good save from Maddison’s fierce effort from the edge of the box.
But Norwich were a threat on the break with Teemu Pukki being denied by Kasper Schmeichel in the 13th minute.
Gunn made his best stop 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 Pukki clear, only for the Finnish striker to send a low right-foot shot on to the post in the 45th minute as the hosts lost their way.
There were also ironic cheers earlier in the half when Leicester, who have conceded the most Premier League goals from corners, survived Norwich’s first corner.
The home fans finally burst into life in the 54th minute when the recalled Vardy (below) scored his first goal in more than two months.
The striker collected Harvey Barnes’ pass, drove into the box and saw a right-foot 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’ pass and buried a first-time left-foot strike high into the net.
Maddison got on the scoresheet in the 70th minute with a rasping left-foot drive after Gunn had 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.
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).
REFEREE: Simon Hooper 7.