City Guarantee Premier League Survival Following Watford Win

After an even opening period, it was the unchanged Foxes who came closest to breaking the deadlock on 19 minutes after Jamie Vardy’s low shot was turned onto the post by Adrian Mariappa. 

Kasper Schmeichel was called into action on two separate occasions shortly after, as he denied both Stefano Okaka and Tom Cleverley in quick succession. 

But it was City who would go on to open the scoring just moments later. Marc Albrighton’s corner deflected off Etienne Capoue and into the path of Wilfred Ndidi, who rattled home from six yards out to score his third goal for the Club. 

There was still time in the first period for Riyad Mahrez to see a deflected effort strike the top of the crossbar, but the Algerian would eventually find the net after the break. 

Jamie Vardy flicked a long ball onto Mahrez and while Mariappa seemed to have dealt with the danger, the alert Mahrez, making his 100th Premier League appearance for the Club, robbed the Watford centre half and darted towards goal before nut-megging goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes. 

Efforts from Vardy and Christian Fuchs followed, but it was Schmeichel who was the busier of the two ‘keepers late on - the Denmark international first denied M’Baye Niang before making two stops from Tom Cleverley. 

Just as Watford looked like they would halve the deficit, City struck again in injury time following a lethal counter-attack to round off the scoring. 

Substitute Demarai Gray won the ball inside his own box and picked out Vardy on the wing with a fine pass. City’s No.9 burst down the flank and delivered into Albrighton, who fired in off the post for 3-0. 

It was the first time since 1984 that City had recorded five top-flight home wins on the bounce.     

Major moment 

The opening 30 minutes at King Power Stadium proved to be a cagey affair, with long-range efforts from Tom Cleverley and Danny Drinkwater both sailing well wide. 

Kasper Schmeichel made two important saves, but it was Wilfred Ndidi’s breakthrough strike that proved most important at King Power Stadium. 

It gave the Foxes something to build on and they did exactly that in the second half, as Riyad Mahrez and Marc Albrighton both got on the scoresheet to help seal all three points. 

Who impressed? 

Riyad Mahrez has now netted in his last three appearances against Watford, with the latest a beautifully-taken solo goal. 

After dispossessing Adrian Mariappa, the Algerian darted into the box and poked the ball past Heurelho Gomes from an impossible angle, just before Sebastian Prodl could get across to intercept. 

It was a deserved goal, too. He put both Mariappa and Daryl Janmaat under pressure throughout the entire second period. 

Where do we stand? 

With Premier League safety guaranteed, Leicester City can now focus on finishing in the top half of the table. 

Saturday’s victory over Watford moved them up to ninth – just two points behind eight-placed West Bromwich Albion. 

Two victories from their remaining three games would seal a top-10 spot come the end of the campaign. 

Coming up… 

The Foxes’ final away trip of the 2016/17 season comes next, as they head to Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City on Saturday 13 May (12.30pm kick-off). 

City famously beat Man City 3-1 in that fixture last term en route to a glorious Premier League title win.