Jamie Vardy strikes at the last to give Leicester lifeline against West BromWest Brom 2 - 3 LeicesterDarren Fletcher 8
Craig Gardner 26
David Nugent 20
Robert Huth 80
Jamie Vardy 90 +0:45
Jamie Vardy celebrates after his late winner for Leicester at West Brom.
Behind twice and with their hopes of surviving waning by the minute, Jamie Vardy gave Leicester City a massive boost in their battle to stay in the Premier League thanks to a stunning breakaway goal two minutes into added time that draws West Bromwich Albion into the scrap. Suddenly the gap to safety is three points and with a favourable run-in, Nigel Pearson’s team look well placed to stay up.
Just as the game seemed to be playing out to a draw, Vardy robbed Gareth McAuley of possession near halfway and drove forward before finding the bottom left corner of Boaz Myhill’s goal. The away end exploded with joy, but the boos from the home end signalled the increasing fears that Tony Pulis’s side could yet be in a battle to the end.
West Brom designated this fixture Jeff Astle Day, in memory of the former England striker who died from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in 2002. His family have been raising awareness of brain injuries in sport since the cause of his death was revised by a Glasgow coroner last year and the Jeff Astle Foundation was officially launched before kick-off. There was a nostalgic feel from well before kick-off and hundreds of retro shirts with “Astle 9” on the back dotted around a sold out ground.
The Albion players wore a commemorative kit in honour of the 1968 FA Cup winner, pleasingly numbered from 1-11 even though Darren Fletcher donned 11 in centre midfield, and the now customary ovation in the ninth minute was particularly moving with a mosaic at the Brummie End displaying the simple message: “Astle King”.
By that point, the hosts were already in front courtesy of Fletcher and the goal decision system. Seconds after Joleon Lescott was left unmarked and headed wide from four yards, the captain made no mistake when arriving at the near post to head Chris Brunt’s corner home. Kasper Schmeichel’s flap could not keep it out and despite the attempts of Esteban Cambiasso to clear off the line, Martin Atkinson checked his watch and signalled that the ball had crossed the line.
Cambiasso was integral as Leicester regained parity with their first chance of note in the 20th minute, though, as his quick free-kick from a defensive position was knocked down by Leonardo Ulloa and David Nugent brushed off Craig Dawson before tucking the ball neatly past Myhill.
They were only level for eight minutes, however, and more loose defending was duly punished by Craig Gardner. Chris Brunt’s whipped cross from the left was only half-cleared by Jeffrey Schlupp, under pressure from Brown Ideye, and Gardner, left all alone near the penalty spot, acrobatically sent the rebound into Schmeichel’s bottom left corner via a Wes Morgan deflection.
Leicester finished the half strongly and Ulloa spurned a glorious chance to level again three minutes before the break when blazing over from eight yards following a cute header from Nugent, repaying the favour for his goal.
Pearson brought Marcin Wasilewski in for Ritchie De Laet at the interval, a move which allowed Schlupp, who had started at left-back, more licence to roam forward, but it was on the opposite flank where Leicester looked most likely to penetrate. Marc Albrighton cut in front in from the right shortly after the hour only for his goal bound effort to divert for a corner off Lescott’s outstretched leg.
West Brom increasingly appeared to invite the pressure on. They looked agitated and almost rushed in possession, typified by Brunt banishing what should have been a simple pass across the field into the stands with 20 minutes to go.
Leicester sensed an opportunity and began piling forward. Riyad Mahrez sent a promising free-kick well over, Morgan headed tamely wide from a Cambiasso corner before they finally made it 2-2 with a shade more than 10 minutes remaining. Again it came from a clever Cambiasso dead-ball. Instead of pumping the corner in, the Argentinian spotted Albrighton unmarked on the left corner of the box and played it short to the winger, who fizzed into the back post. Nugent hooked the ball across the face of goal, Wasilewski headed on and Huth was on hand to add the finishing touch.
The final 10 minutes were frenetic and Schlupp had genuine claims for a penalty turned down after being bundled over by Dawson. It was all set up for Vardy, though, who pick pocketed McAuley on halfway, raced forward and after turning Lescott, sent a low finish across goal and in.
Guardian
