Brighton 0-2 Leicester Report By Simon Mack

Brighton & Hove Albion 0 Leicester City 2

23^rd November 2019 3:00pm

Amex Stadium: 30,640

The grey foxes away kit got another outing in the rain as city headed south in the Premier League this weekend to face mid table Brighton, and despite the seagulls decent home form of late they could not prevent the Leicester ‘fairy-tale mk2’ from enchanting them into defeat.

The foxes had to roll with the punches in this one as they have before to great effect on their travels. Early on city had the better of the game and Ayonze Perez who was hugely bright in his performance  hit the post with a header after some neat work from Harvey Barnes down the left flank lead to a back stick cross.

As the first half matured so did the home side and top scorer Maupay became an increasing nuisance to the city back four. Jonny Evans who had recovered from illness to take part from the off did well to shield the Frenchman’s advances as the half came to a close, and despite the foxes looking like they’d break the deadlock early on the latter period of the match would have the neutrals suggesting this match was in the balance going into the second half.

Leicester were unchanged for this tie despite doubts over James Maddison’s fitness and remained that way for the second period. Early on it was the hosts once again that continued to knock on the city door in a similar vein to how they’d ended the first period, but miserly defence played it’s part like a charm and despite the pressure the scoreboard remained untroubled.

Just after the mark had passed the deadlock was finally broken with memories of the historic title winning season on display as the ever superb ever fit ever dedicated genius of a forward that is Jamie Vardy broke from inside his own half and drove into the seagull’s box, paused then delivered a perfectly timed square ball into the path of raiding partner Perez who smashed it into the corner to put city ahead.

Vardy’s sublime season seems to mature like a fine wine with each game that passes. In this victory he had hounded the opposition defence in the zonal manner his manager asks of him with relentless vigour, and ever since that second season rebirth of the city legend it has always been Vardy that sets the tone for the rest of his team mates with his passion, his determination and his drive to win. He’d put the ball on a plate for James Maddison square in the box too and it had only been Maddison’s hesitation that had not seen him score. As the foxes talisman ages he only seems to get better, and late on when substitute Demari Gray earned a penalty on the edge of the box it was that man Vardy who coolly took the retake after the first was disallowed after a rebound shot by Maddison was chalked off for encroachment. Yet there was the Leicester hero taking it again and slotting home his 12^th goal of the season sealing the win and leading from the front with decisive skill and nerve as always.

The league’s top scorer has been city’s most consistently outstanding performer this season as he’s done for the foxes so many times during his brilliant career at the club, and as he continues to go about his business in calm, ruthless fashion what a massive hole he would leave for Rodgers if the catastrophe of injury came knocking.

That may well be one for Brendan to think long and hard about with the January window looming and no genuine understudy within the squad seemingly, but for now let’s enjoy and revel in the brilliance of our Jamie Vardy. A man of the match by a country mile and a hero to all who don blue and white in support of the foxes.

This season paints an alternative shade of circumstances in several ways to the one when all our wildest dreams came true, but in Vardy I would suggest his performances are more mature, more considered and more cultured than ever, and what he has given Leicester City so far to date this season is a vintage of finer calibre than any suitor to the title of top score of the Premier League and far beyond.

Two home games loom in the space of three days in the guise of visits by Everton and Watford next up, and who’d dare bet against Vardy continuing his brilliant scoring form and the foxes outstanding season continuing to heap pressure on pace setters Liverpool as their fixture log jam begins to complicate their festive period.