Four-star Leicester thumps Villa

Leicester’s goal-machine Vardy had not found the net since December 21, 2019, but converted a penalty just past the hour to double Leicester’s lead, shortly after replacing Kelechi Iheanacho. Harvey Barnes had opened the scoring before half-time following a dreadful misjudgement by Villa keeper Pepe Reina.

Vardy struck again after 79 minutes to take his league tally to 19 goals for the season. Barnes then claimed his second to make it a miserable night for Leicester’s Midlands rival Villa, which beat it in the League Cup semi-finals. It was Leicester’s first win in five league games, ending a slump that had put its top-four place and hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next season in peril.

Third-placed Leicester began the night only five points above fifth-placed Manchester United but the victory meant it has re-established a healthy gap. Leicester has 53 points from 29 games, while Chelsea has 48 and United 45. All have nine matches remaining.

After being caught by Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Vardy is again the league’s top scorer by two goals. “We needed to put in a performance. The past few weeks, it has not been there. I went through a spell where I did not score but that happens. Luckily, they both went in,” said Vardy, who netted with his first touch. Dean Smith’s Villa remains second from bottom, two points below the safety line with 25 points and a game in hand. It only had itself to blame for gifting Leicester’s first two goals. Villa started brightly but in the 40th minute, Reina charged out to intercept Marc Albrighton’s pass down the left flank and got nowhere near the ball, allowing Barnes to knock it around him before firing home between the back-tracking defenders.

It was Leicester’s first goal after three consecutive league blanks and the host dominated the match thereafter. Vardy had the chance to get on the scoresheet when Tyrone Mings was penalised. The central defender dived in the area to head a Barnes cross clear but the ball hit him close to his shoulder.

Vardy put the penalty away without any fuss in the 63rd minute. He later got his second goal when he showed his poacher’s instinct, half-volleying the ball which rebounded to him. The outstanding Barnes completed a good night for Leicester by applying a clinical finish to a flowing move in the 85th minute.