LEICESTER 3 C PALACE 0
BRENDAN RODGERS hailed ton-up Jamie Vardy’s landmark as he boosted Leicester’s Champions League hopes.
Vardy reignited third-placed Leicester’s push for Europe as they smashed Palace in their first win since the restart.
The ex-England striker ended his drought by scoring twice, bringing up his century in the process.
Rodgers said: “It is a phenomenal achievement.
“To come into the Premier League at a late stage and be as prolific as he has been is incredible.
“It has been hard for him because he hasn’t had too many chances recently.
“But he has got over the milestone and I think he will score many more goals.
“Jamie’s story is inspirational to a lot of people all around the country.”
Vardy brought up his 100th Premier League goal in his 206th appearance – not quick enough to place him in the division’s top-10 fastest to the milestone.
But Palace boss Roy Hodgson, who worked with the former non-league star at international level with England, said: “Leicester must be delighted they signed Vardy from Fleetwood and he shows no sign of letting up.
“I take my hat off to Jamie, having come into the Premier League relatively late.”
For Palace, it was a third successive reverse without scoring, but Hodgson, who hosts Chelsea on Tuesday, added: “It was a harsh scoreline. I thought for long periods of the game we were equal, but they took their goals well.
“Unfortunately, we made mistakes. Our mistakes were harshly punished.
“Our goalkeeper wasn’t exactly under enormous pressure, but he has picked the ball out of the net three times.
“When you go 2-0 down against a team of Leicester’s quality, it is always going to be difficult.
“But our players didn’t let their heads drop, which is very commendable.
“We kept trying, but, in the end, we travel back having lost 3-0.
“We would still like to finish in the top half of the table.
“But our first priority has to be to put a stop to this losing run and to get a few more points on the board.”
JAMIE VARDY finally smashed through the Premier League 100-goal barrier to rejuvenate Leicester’s Champions League bid.
Boss Brendan Rodgers went with Vardy and the recalled Kelechi Iheanacho up front together.
His bold tactics paid off as sorry Crystal Palace were sent packing in a dire second half for the visitors.
Iheanacho (right) opened the scoring following the break before Vardy’s late brace sealed a comfortable win after sub Harvey Barnes made a big impact.
Victory was a huge relief to third-placed Leicester, whose Champions League hopes had been slipping.
And after waiting since March to smash through three figures in the top flight,
LEICESTER C PALACE 4 ....... Shots on Target ............ 1 6 ......... Shots off Target ........... 5 5 ........... Blocked Shots ............. 1 3 .................. Corners ................... 7 18 ................ Fouls ..................... 8 1 ............... Offsides ................... 1 2 ................. Yellow Cards ............... 1 0 ................... Red Cards ................ 0 84.3 .... Passing Success %.. 79.8 58 ................. Duels Won .............. 67 46.4 ....... Duel Success % ..... 53.6 29 .................... Tackles .................. 17 58.6 ........ Tackles Won % ....... 41.2 52.3 .......... Possession % ........ 47.7 47.7 ....... Territorial Adv % .... 52.3 504 ............ Total Passes ......... 445 11 ................ Total Crosses ........... 20 132 ................ Lost Balls ............. 163 59 ................ Recoveries ............. 60 63.2 ......... 1st Half Poss % ...... 36.8 39.9 ....... 2ndHalfPoss% ...... 60.1
Vardy couldn’t have wished for a simpler goal following Mamadou Sakho’s costly slip.
The former England striker then added another in stoppage time with a cool right-foot finish for his 21st Premier League goal this term and his 101st in total.
It is the latest feat for Vardy, 33, after his remarkable journey from factory worker in non-league to title winner.
To pass the landmark after only first playing in the top flight since 2014 is phenomenal.
Now, next season the striker will also hope to get a chance to add to his Champions League tally, too.
Manchester United are on Leicester’s tail, but this win keeps the hunting pack at bay.
They deserved the points after dominating from the start and might have led at the break, had Iheanacho not headed wide and James Justin been denied by the woodwork.
Palace did not have a single effort on target in the opening 45 minutes and looked like a side happy to have already secured survival.
Leicester’s England defender Ben Chilwell was unable to continue for the second half after ankle trouble.
He was replaced by Ryan Bennett for his debut, on loan from Wolves, as the hosts switched to a back three.
Leicester continued on the offensive after the restart as Vardy flashed a header wide.
They broke the deadlock in the 49th minute after the impressive Youri Tielemans rolled a superb left-foot ball across the six-yard box. There was Iheanacho running in to find the back of the net with a close-range, rightfoot effort for his 10th goal this season after also netting as a sub in the midweek defeat at Everton.
Vardy made it 2-0 in 77th minute when Sakho’s shocking slip in his own box allowed Barnes to square to give the hitman a tap-in.
He then netted again in stoppage time with a rightfoot finish after Barnes sent him free.
Palace were really poor as even skipper Luka Milivojevic’s set-pieces failed to cause much trouble.
While dangerman Wilfried Zaha, who had scored three times on his two previous successful trips to the King Power Stadium, was well shackled.