Nugent Does His Homework

The Foxes ended 5-3 winners courtesy of a Leo Ulloa brace, Jamie Vardy’s strike and Nugent’s first Premier League goal of the campaign. But speaking to Foxes Player after the game, Nugent admitted that there was plenty of preparation that helped him get the better of the Man Utd shot stopper. 

He said: “I knew at 3-1 it was vital that I scored to get us back in the game. I watched clips on De Gea and his penalties last year, like when Steven Gerrard had three penalties against him. 

“He seems to like to wait until the last minute, but he always dives, so I knew if I put it down the middle he was going to go one way. 

“I think for the second penalty he was a bit wary of Leo going down the middle so he didn’t move until the very end and it was a good penalty. 

“You practice these things in training and it paid off. 

“It’s all on the laptops and the iPads we get at the training ground – which way he dives, which ones he’s saved, which is his favourite side, which ones he missed. We’ve got all the information; it’s just up to us now to put it into practice on the pitch. 

“You’ve got to be confident to be a penalty taker and I took on the role last year. I got nine out 12 last year and one out of one so far this year. I just wish I was on the pitch for the second one as I could have had two goals! 

“But playing that advanced midfield role, it’s hard to play the full game, you’ve got to get forward and defend too, and the lads that came on did brilliantly too.” 

The trio of Nugent, Jamie Vardy and Leo Ulloa won widespread plaudits for their display against Man Utd, and it’s something that the former Preston North End man is hoping to continue on Saturday when the team travel to Crystal Palace. 

He added: “There’s no point resting on our laurels because we’ve got Palace next and it’s just as important. It’s an away game and they've got a new manager. They’ve had a few good results but hopefully we can take our form into the game on Saturday and get another three points.” 

On his partnership with his fellow strikers he added: “We did it all last year when me and Vards played up front together. I’m playing more of an attacking midfielder role this year with Leo scoring the goals, but we’ve all managed to get on the scoresheet [against Man Utd] and that’s the way we want it. 

“All strikers like to score goals, whether it’s a penalty, a tap-in or a three-yarder. Every goal counts and I think we’ve proven that all three of us can play in the same team at the same time.”