Opening Day Delight As Castagne & Vardy Seal Baggies Win
Summer signing Castagne was handed his debut at right-back by Brendan Rodgers, while Wilfred Ndidi slotted into the centre of defence and Vardy led the line at what has proved to be a fruitful ground for the City No.9 in recent years.
The fixture produced an even start, with former West Ham man Grady Diangana flicking wide at the near post on eight minutes before Harvey Barnes, in the Leicester wall, did well to head a Matheus Pereira free-kick behind.
City grew into the game and began to dominate proceedings around the half-hour mark, with Barnes having two good opportunities turned away by Baggies stopper Sam Johnstone, while Vardy, eventually flagged offside, was also denied.
At the other end, Kasper Schmeichel was also called into action with three minutes of the first half to play, with the Denmark international doing well to block Pereira’s dangerous low cross in the six-yard box.
An unchanged City side, with momentum behind them, took to the field in the second period, and their positivity finally told on 57 minutes, when debutant Castagne headed in fellow Belgium international Dennis Praet’s cross for 1-0.
Praet followed up Leicester’s opener with an effort of his own as he drilled a deflected shot over, while Ayoze Pérez had a strike disallowed following Vardy’s offside in the build-up, and a fearsome free-kick from Youri Tielemans had to be turned over by Johnstone.
City did not let up in their search for a second goal and a chance to double their advantage arrived on 73 minutes when Vardy, after Barnes was denied by Johnstone, was fouled in the area by Kyle Bartley. The No.9 stepped up and converted to make it 2-0 to Rodgers’ men, opening his 2020/21 Premier League account in the process.
Shortly after, and much to the delight of the Blue Army, No.10 James Maddison made his return from a hip injury, while Barnes curled just inches wide of the mark as the winger continued to threaten at the Hawthorns.
A third goal did arrive on 83 minutes, though, and it was Vardy who once again dispatched his spot-kick - won by James Justin - to make it six goals in his past five appearances at the home of the Baggies.
Major moment
While Leicester had two significant opportunities to open the scoring in the opening 45 minutes, Sam Johnstone twice stood strong to prevent Harvey Barnes from finding the net, and the first period finished goalless.
However, it took just 12 second-half minutes for City to breach the West Brom defence, as Dennis Praet delivered into Timothy Castagne, who headed in past Johnstone to begin a profitable period for the visitors.
Jamie Vardy’s brace of penalties, meanwhile, saw him continue his excellent form at the Hawthorns, as City wrapped up all three points from their Premier League opener.
Who impressed?
Matt Elliott told LCFC Radio: “Dennis Praet did very well despite being taken off. He was an influence for Leicester, but the new boy deserved a mention. He was very accomplished in his all-round game and to get that opening goal was a decisive moment in this game. What a way to start your career at a new club, and fair play to him.”
Where do we stand?
City, who scored three goals without reply against the Baggies, occupy second position in the Premier League, with Arsenal sitting top after an identical result against Fulham on Saturday.
Coming up…
Leicester’s first home fixture of 2020/21 sees them entertain Burnley at King Power Stadium on Sunday 20 September (7pm kick-off), with free coverage of the match available from 5:30pm on LCFC Radio’s Matchday Live.
All times BST.