Leicester further solidified their position at the summit of the Sky Bet Championship with a 2-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday at King Power Stadium, as captain Jamie Vardy found the net against his childhood club.
Under the guidance of Enzo Maresca, Leicester secured the win by halftime, extending their lead over third-placed Southampton to 14 points as they edge closer to a return to the Premier League.
Vardy, who was released by Wednesday in his youth due to concerns over his size, played a pivotal role in the opening goal scored by Abdul Fatawu just four minutes into the match.
Making his first start in over two months, Vardy’s involvement was significant, particularly given that the last time he started a Championship game was also against Wednesday.
However, Leicester’s victory was a collective effort, showcasing threats from various players across the pitch in a dominant performance against Danny Rohl’s struggling side.
The Foxes capitalized on an early opportunity after a defensive mix-up in Wednesday’s ranks. A misplaced pass from goalkeeper James Beadle left Will Vaulks vulnerable under pressure from Dennis Praet. Kieran Dewsbury-Hall’s subsequent cross, intended for Vardy, found its way to Fatawu, who slotted home into an unguarded net.
Wednesday found it difficult to cope with Leicester’s fluid style of play, with the likes of Harry Winks, Vardy, and Dewsbury-Hall causing constant problems.
In the 30th minute, Dewsbury-Hall’s skillful play led to a dangerous cross, but defender Wout Faes could only direct his effort over the crossbar.
Leicester doubled their advantage just before halftime when a long ball from Faes was controlled by Dewsbury-Hall, who then set up Vardy to score with a well-placed shot.
This goal marked Vardy’s 11th of the season, making him Leicester’s leading scorer.
Although Wednesday briefly threatened with efforts from Djeidi Gassama and Anthony Musaba in the second half, Leicester comfortably saw out the match, with Vardy receiving a standing ovation upon his substitution with 10 minutes remaining.
While Leicester managed to navigate the final minutes without much pressure, there were some positive signs for Rohl’s side in the second half.
