Vardy’s Lone Strike Enough For Leicester Over Wolves
Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers praised the “fitness and hunger” of Jamie Vardy after his superb finish for the Foxes meant Bruno Lage’s Wolves tenure began with a defeat at King Power Stadium.
The Foxes’ number nine was the most lively player on the pitch and struck just before half-time courtesy of a well-timed run and angled header from Ricardo Pereira’s right-wing cross.
The 34-year-old, who netted 17 times last season including two on the final day against Tottenham, had earlier seen a finish from a tight angle ruled out for offside.
Rodgers admitted afterwards that his task now is to manage the striker correctly in order to ensure he maintains such impressive performances across the campaign.
“We had a good chat over the course of pre-season,” said the Foxes boss. “He’s got two years left on his contract. It’s up to both of us to manage him, make him as explosive and electric as he can be.
“But when he has that form and that level of fitness, that hunger, he’s very difficult to play against. I thought he was outstanding today.
“There’s some outstanding strikers in the Premier League and of course he’s up there with them. He had a really good pre-season and we saw the results of that today.”
Wolves, beginning life under Nuno Espirito Santo’s successor Lage, missed a golden chance before Vardy’s header but, having run clear of the defence Adama Traore side-footed tamely wide.
Lage hads promised a more attacking approach than that seen in Nuno’s final season at Molineux and there was certainly evidence of greater adventure after the break as the visitors pushed forward in pursuit of parity.
To stem the Wolves attacks, Rodgers handed Foxes debuts to two summer signings in centre-back Jannik Vestergaard and central midfielder Boubakary Soumare.
It took some timely blocks and an offside flag to rule out a finish from Conor Coady to deny Wolves an equaliser – but few would have described a point for the visitors as undeserved.
The game also saw a return to action for Wanderers striker Raul Jimenez, who was quiet in his first game since fracturing his skull last November.
