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| Vardy |
IF you’re wearing golden boots, the expectation is that you will deliver. Jamie Vardy took that questionable sartorial decision yesterday evening. However, he also did the necessary deed and extraordinary tale gathered yet another chapter.
He already shared the Premier League record of scoring in ten successive games with Ruud van Nistelrooy.
So, it was fitting that it was against Manchester United, with their travelling support singing the old songs in praise of their legendary Dutch striker, that the Sheffield Wednesday reject and alumnus of Stocksbridge Park Steels, who was still playing non-league football three years ago, chose to go one better.
The new record is now eleven successive games and Vardy has actually scored 13 in that run. Yesterday it felt as though he were trampling all over the established order, not just van Nistelrooy. Whilst Vardy was all energy and action, Wayne Rooney looked a much older man than his 30 years at the other end.
There were a few snapped shots wide, a desperate dive on 35 minutes and an attepot to fling himself at a rebound. But, bruised and seemingly hobbling with a dead leg, he was substituted on 67 minutes. It may not be the case come the summer, but yesterday evening the comparison with his Leicester counterpart and England team-mate was unkind for Rooney.
The Vardy goal when it came was a classis of its kind from Leicester this season. Kasper Schmeichel bowled the ball to Christian Fuchs who advanced upfield to play a raking pass behind United’s extremely shaky back three for Vardy to run onto.
Such is his confidence at present, few inside the King Power Stadium can have doubted the conclusion once the man of the moment began that run.
He simply sprinted across a startled Darmian, took one touch and crashed it past David De Gea.. The stadium fairly erupted as Vardy raced off to celebrate, dashing briefly past the United fans, pointing at his chest and shouting something, presumably along the lines of: ‘I’m the man now.’
And he was but it was not just him. Leicester may have to share top spot with Manchester City after this draw, but their resilience as we approach December is remarkable. They aren’t going away and were magnificent in that first half, when United reverted to their stuttering shapeless alter ego, a parody of their finest sides. And when United improved, as they were almost bound too, Leicester proved equal to their defensive task.
Yet it was first half onslaught which truly exhilarated the King Power Stadium. Vardy and Marc Albrighton has already served warning on Darmian on 11 minutes, hounding him into losing the ball and being unfortunate to concede a free kick. Darmian and Paddy McNair in particular will not remember their first-half performances fondly.
But all over the pitch Leicester were embarrassing United, none more so than Riyad Mahrez, whom Ashley Young had to pull back as he raced away on yet another counter attack and thus earned a yellow card. United’s 3-5-2 formation, simply looked ragged. And when Mahrez broke through on 31 minutes it needed the steadfastness of De Gea to block his smart shot with his knees.
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