Matchday Live Talking Points: Sharp Second Half, Unflustered Evans & Solid Full-Backs
- LCFC Radio’s Matchday Live contingent provide an analysis of Leicester City’s victory over Watford
- The Foxes extended their winning sequence to seven games in the Premier League
- Gerry Taggart, Matt Elliott and Nev Foulger all reflected on another triumph for Brendan Rodgers’ outfit
A goalless first period was followed up by a penalty from Jamie Vardy and James Maddison’s injury-time effort as the Foxes climbed back into second position with another hard-earned three points on Filbert Way.
Goalscorer Vardy, Premier League debutant James Justin and centre-back partners Jonny Evans and Çağlar Söyüncü were all topics of conversation, while Taggart had some kind words for Christian Fuchs, who made his 100th Premier League appearance.
Sharper second half
Gerry Taggart said: “It was just one of those games where things weren’t up to speed. They came out in the second half and we thought they’d have a bit of a team talk at half-time. They had that and they looked a little bit sharper. You have to say, Leicester were the better team on the night. Watford did offer something in the game, but Kasper Schmeichel only had to make one save and it was that save late on.”
City deserved the win
Nev Foulger said: “It wasn’t their best performance of the season by a long way, but they deserved the win. They were the better side, there’s no question at all about that. They had more ambition and they wanted to get forward. We thought the first half was a bit flat, but it got quicker in the second half.”
Unflustered Evans
Matt Elliott said: “Early on, there were a couple of signs where it might have been a different challenge for Çağlar Söyüncü. He had one on him, but Watford petered out a bit in an attacking sense. As is always the case, Jonny Evans looked so unflustered – he really is a smooth operator.”
Full-backs looked solid
Gerry Taggart said: “Christian Fuchs, he’s not played a Premier League game for a bit and he came in and he looked comfortable. He was excellent. To come in out of the cold and to be ready to go. Ricardo Pereira wasn’t at his best, nobody was tonight, but what he did was probed and was always an outlet on the ball. Under pressure he was great on the ball and he made a couple of wonderful challenges.”
Justin’s impressive Premier League debut
Nev Foulger said: “I’d like to congratulate James Justin on a very impressive 15-minute cameo. He got the assist for James Maddison’s late goal, and he was playing out of position in a way on that left wing, but he was very impressive.”
Influenced by Vardy & Evans
Gerry Taggart said: “Jonny Evans and Jamie Vardy are two of the most influential players on the pitch, in terms of organising and obviously at the other end, goalscoring. As Man of the Match performances are concerned, week in, week out, they do what it says on the tin. They are vital to the success of this team at the minute.”
Only ever one winner
Matt Elliott said: “Jamie Vardy wasn’t as lively tonight, but he still scored. Harvey Barnes must be thinking ‘when is it going to happen for me?’. It was good goalkeeping for his two efforts. Yes, Leicester weren’t at their best, but you only ever felt that there would be one team that would go on to win it. There was the odd flutter from Watford, but up until injury time, it didn’t look like they’d score.”