Vardy Fires City To 40 Points

The Foxes have found The Hawthorns to be fertile ground in previous seasons with two successive 3-2 victories proving crucial to achieving their objectives at both ends of the table. This encounter, however, was always likely to be a more conservative affair and so it proved to be the case in the West Midlands.

With 43 minutes on the clock, Salomón Rondón squandered possession deep in the Baggies’ half, allowing a lively Shinji Okazaki to jump into action. The Japanese striker skipped inside his man and slid it into Vardy’s path - who converted beyond Ben Foster, scoring his 64th goal for the Club.

Albion, who had lost their previous three top-flight outings, were determined not to go down quietly, however, and forged several dangerous openings. Rondón, a Venezuelan striker who has caused City problems in recent years, remained a threat despite his lapse in concentration just before the break.

But Craig Shakespeare’s men dug in the trenches to emerge from The Hawthorns with all three points, their 11th victory of the 2016/17 season. The Foxes boss made just one change ahead of kick-off with Okazaki coming in for Leonardo Ulloa, while Islam Slimani took Ahmed Musa’s place on the bench.

Kasper Schmeichel had to be alert on several occasions, no more so than in the 18th minute. A long ball from the left flank found its way to Chris Brunt, behind the backline and free in space, but the Danish shot-stopper got across his goal to get a strong hand to his hopeful headed effort at point blank range. 

City, too, carried an aerial threat. Christian Fuchs’ throw-ins have quickly become a regular feature of Leicester’s recent performances. This clash was no different but the likes of Claudio Yacob and Gareth McAuley were able to prevent them from causing too much havoc at the back for the Baggies. 

After Vardy’s opener, reminiscent of so many memorable strikes from the England man, Leicester were settled with their lead. Riyad Mahrez nearly added to it on the hour-mark with a devastating gallop down the right flank, leaving Brunt in his wake, but his low effort nestled in the side-netting.

In the end, City’s cavalry up front weren’t needed with the back four doing just enough to see out the result in West Bromwich. Nine points clear of the relegation zone, Leicester now occupy 11th and are just four points off eighth place with 12 points still to play for.

Key moment 

They say a game of fine margins will either be settled by a moment of quality or misfortunate. In this case, it was both. Jamie Vardy still had plenty to do when Shinji Okazaki passed it through to him in the 43rd minute. The 30-year-old finished emphatically to all but confirm City’s Premier League status.  

It came just as West Brom were enjoying the ascendency, cutting in on both flanks and crossing with precision. Vardy’s effort came at an opportune moment for the Foxes, too, as it allowed Craig Shakespeare to prepare them for the second half battle that would ensue. 

Who impressed? 

More than just a winger, Marc Albrighton has become a lynchpin for Leicester City during his transformational two-and-a-half-year spell at King Power Stadium. The 27-year-old exhibited all the traits that have helped him become a firm fans’ favourite with the Blue Army on Saturday afternoon.

Albrighton unpicked the West Brom defence with a host of deadly deliveries into the box but, importantly, he raced back whenever called upon too. Having operated at wing-back in the past, he remains a player who works for the greater good – and City continue to reap the benefits.

Where does it leave us? 

With an 11th victory of the season now secured, Leicester City momentarily jumped back into the Premier League’s top half. A late winner for AFC Bournemouth at Sunderland, however, subsequently relegated their hosts and elevated them above Craig Shakespeare’s men by a solitary point. 

The Foxes are just four points off eighth place – currently occupied by West Brom – on the back of this latest success. Now nine points clear of 18th placed Swansea City, it would take a remarkable swing in fortunes for Leicester to find themselves in the relegation mire before the end of the 2016/17 campaign. 

What’s next? 

Watford visit King Power Stadium on Saturday (3pm kick-off) in the first of three remaining home matches for the Foxes. Before title-chasing Tottenham Hotspur and AFC Bournemouth travel to Filbert Way, however, a trip to Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City awaits in a fortnight.