Vardy brings party as Foxes honour Vichai
FREE cake was handed out to Leicester fans for what would have been Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s birthday celebration, and the performance that followed put the icing on top.
Vichai, the Leicester chairman, would have been 61 on Thursday and poignancy stirred when supporters stood to sing his name over and over just after the hour in tribute. His son Top rose from his seat to applaud, visibly moved.
But a party atmosphere broke out after Jamie Vardy scored with a towering header to clinch a result that moves Leicester into contention for Europe.
It is now three wins in a row for Brendan Rodgers, whose side dominated Bournemouth to go level on points with seventhplaced Wolves.
Vardy looks in the mood to keep firing too, with Rodgers’ approach suiting the striker. This was his 13th goal of the Premier League campaign. And when captain Wes Morgan is flicking in finishes anything seems possible. Morgan opened the scoring early with a backheel.
‘It was very, very good,’ said Rodgers, without overstatement. ‘Especially on the back of an international break, it was very cohesive. It is pleasing to see the ideas come through after three or four weeks. Our pressing and aggression was outstanding’
Leicester’s display was all the more impressive having come a week after those who were not away with their countries flew to Thailand for Vichai’s cremation. They also handled the emotion that flowed from the stands. ‘On a day that was a special occasion the fans showed their appreciation, it was a lovely touch and generated through to the players, it gave them the energy,’ said Rodgers.
Before the international break Morgan scored with virtually the final touch at Burnley to earn Leicester victory and it took only 11 minutes for him to strike again here.
James Maddison worked a corner routine with Ben Chilwell, lofting the ball to the left-back who was unmarked on the edge of the box. Chilwell took a touch then struck the ball low, the deflection off Morgan taking it in off the post.
Rather than pure good luck, replays showed Morgan had reacted sharply, using his left foot to backheel the ball on target. It was good timing by the 35-year-old in another way too, given he signed a new one-year contract last week.
Almost immediately Bournemouth went close to restoring parity. Ryan Fraser burst down the left and whipped a cross that reached Callum Wilson. His shot from five yards was firm, but Kasper Schmeichel scrambled to his left to make a terrific save.
Leicester were creating chances through considered approaches the likes of which Rodgers has clearly been coaching. Harvey Barnes and Youri Tielemans were key to a move that provided space for Maddison to shoot, but he dragged the ball just wide.
Tielemans was the spark for an even better opening for Vardy. His quick pass down the right freed Ricardo Pereira and Maddison’s run distracted Bournemouth’s defence from Vardy in the middle. Ricardo’s cross was good but Vardy skimmed his finish wide.
Another neat move of intricate passing ended with Maddison’s high shot going into the gloves of Asmir Begovic. Bournemouth’s opportunities came predominantly on the counter. Fraser beat Ricardo in a footrace and pulled back to Josh King, whose finish flashed over. When the clock
showed 60 minutes, the whole stadium rose to pay tribute to Vichai. He was 60 when he died in October.
‘Vichai had a dream,’ was sung on loop for five minutes, as his image was shown on the big screens. The noise only subsided when Ricardo raced into the box and had his shot blocked, the ball falling to Maddison who fed Vardy. This time he did well, twisting to fire a shot Begovic fended away.
With eight minutes left Tielemans picked out a super cross and Vardy rose to head in off the bar.
Eddie Howe said: ‘I don’t think we were ourselves today, we looked a little bit leggy. We know we’ve fallen short in and out of possession.’