Vardy lifts the gloomy mood for Leicester

TOM COLLOMOSSE at the King Power Stadium

AS he approaches a decade of service as a Leicester player, Jamie Vardy proved he remains as hungry for goals as ever. The 35-year-old struck twice against relegated Norwich early in the second half to lift the mood around the King Power Stadium and help his side climb into the top half, with James Maddison adding a third. Leicester were booed off at half-time for the second game running and, unusually, boss Brendan Rodgers chose to sit in the dugout — rather than stand in his technical area — for most of the second period. This has been a disappointing domestic campaign for Leicester, but it might have been very different had Vardy been fully fit throughout the season. It took until the 54th minute for Leicester to break the deadlock, albeit with a huge slice of luck as Vardy’s shot clipped Grant Hanley and looped over Angus Gunn. It was Vardy’s first goal at home since November 28 and eight minutes later he made it two. Harvey Barnes’ first-time pass was the perfect invitation for Vardy to send a rasping strike beyond the reach of Gunn. Leicester’s third arrived when Gunn parried a cross into the path of Maddison, who volleyed in his 15th of the campaign from 12 yards. Foxes midfielder Maddison admitted that Leicester had endured a disappointing season on the domestic front. ‘I think we have underachieved, we had planned to overachieve and roll around with the big boys at the top but it does not always work like that. That is Premier League football,’ admitted Maddison.