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Leicester 2 - Watford 1: Jamie Vardy on target again as Foxes hit the top of the table
JAMIE VARDY remains on course to match Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s record Premier League scoring streak.
The Jamie Vardy sensation continues as he has scored in nine straight games
A ninth goal in as many league games means the England and Leicester marksman is only one short of equaling van Nistelrooy’s 10 in 10 for Manchester United.
And, on the evidence of Vardy’s exploits, don’t be surprised if he goes on to level the all-time English top-flight record for goals in consecutive games.
That belongs to Blackpool’s Stan Mortensen who rattled 11 in 11 in 1950-51.
Leicester City are now top of the Premier League table
Yet his run would have come to an end here but for the generosity of Riyad Mahrez, the Foxes’ usual penalty taker who stepped aside for Vardy to take the spot kick after a foul on Vardy by keeper Heurelho Gomes.
His 12th goal of the season made it 2-0 and ensured Claudio Ranieri’s men were going joint top of the table, behind Man City and Arsenal on goal difference.
Ranieri paid tribute to the unselfish Mahrez for his part in keeping Vardy on the record trail.
Watford came back through a Troy Deeney penalty, but were unable to find an equaliser
He said: “What more can I say about Jamie? I want to talk about the great moment when Riyad gave Jamie the ball for the penalty. To see Riyad do that says everything about the spirit of this team.”
Watford hit back through a late Troy Deeney penalty but Leicester hung on for their seventh victory in 12 outings.
The visitors were first undone by another Gomes howler, when he missed N’Golo Kante’s 12-yard poke and saw it end up in the net. But Watford coach Quique Flores refused to blame Gomes.
He said: “We support our keeper. He is the soul of our team and our leader.
“Anybody who has played at the top for 14 years will make the odd error. He didn’t need to say sorry.”