Jamie Vardy scored twice as Leicester City defeated Millwall 3-0 at the King Power Stadium
LEICESTER CITY 3-O MILLWALL
Adam Redfern reporting from the King Power Stadium
Jamie Vardy fired Leicester City to the top of the SkyBet Championship on Saturday afternoon, as his double helped secure the Foxes a 3-0 victory over Millwall.
Two quick fire second-half goals from the former Fleetwood Town striker put the game out of sight and succumbed Millwall to their 5th straight away defeat .
Lloyd Dyer also scored his 6th of the season with a first half volley.
The win sees Leicester capitalise on defeats for Burnley and Queens Park Rangers and sit top of the table for the first time this season.
Nigel Pearson named three changes to his side that defeated Ipswich Town 2-1 at Portman Road a week ago. Anthony Knockaert returned from suspension with Matty James and Ignasi Miquel also coming into the side. Ritchie De Laet (leg) was still not fit enough to make the matchday squad.
The Foxes went into the fixture having only lost one home game all season which came before the international break against East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest.
Meanwhile Millwall arrived having not won on the road since September in the local derby v Charlton Athletic.
The visitors also lined up without Liam Trotter and Foxes loanee Martyn Waghorn.
The home side enjoyed the majority of possession early on as the visitors worked over time to keep the Foxes at bay.
And Leicester’s patience in possession paid off at they broke the deadlock on the 12 minute mark with Lloyd Dyer finishing off a fine Foxes move.
Marcin Wasilewski picked out the forward run of Danny Drinkwater, who’s lofted cross found the arriving Dyer at the back post, firing home a volley past David Forde.
Millwall threatened to equalise as half-time approached but a fine save from Kasper Schmeichel following a goal mouth scramble kept Leicester ahead.
The Foxes could have doubled their lead late on in the first half, through Anthony Knockaert and Wes Morgan chances, but Forde ensured Leicester would have to settle for a 1-0 half-time lead.
The second half began with Leicester continually looking to extend their lead.
As Millwall looked to equalise, Schmeichel claimed a corner and released Vardy. The striker raced away before firing home passed Forde with a low drive.
Minutes later a mistimed back pass from Mark Beevers allowed Vardy to round the keeper and slot home his second and all but put the game to bed.
Leicester could have easily added to their 3-0 lead if it wasn’t for Forde who pulled of a series of saves late in the game.
The visitors worked tirelessly to rescue some pride from the game, but eventually time ran out and the Foxes secured yet another home victory.
Speaking after the game manager Nigel Pearson said: “I am very pleased with the performance but as always the result is the most important thing.
“It’s nice that the results have gone our way elsewhere.
“We have earnt the right to be where we are at the moment.”
Speaking about striker Jamie Vardy, Pearson said: “He works tirelessly for the side and I am pleased with how he is improving as a player.
“He has scored some good goals already for us this season and he has got himself another two today. I am pleased for him.”
Millwall manager Steve Lomas said: “We have got to bounce back and we have been quite good at doing that this season.
“We have two home games now to pick up some points and eradicate a poor day at the office.”
Leicester City: Schmeichel; Konchesky; Drinkwater (Hammond 73’); Morgan; James; Vardy; Dyer (Taylor-Fletcher 68’); Miquel; Knockaert; Wasilewski; Nugent (Wood 60’)
Millwall: Forde; Robinson; Feeny; Woolford (Morison 45’); Beevers; Moussi; Chaplow (Martin 60’); Hoyte; Abdou; McDonald (Keogh 60’); Malone
Attendance: 21, 833
