EPL: Vardy goal hands Leicester opening-day victory over Wolves
Jamie Vardy kicked off his tenth season at Leicester City by scoring the only goal in victory over Wolves at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.
It was an entertaining afternoon, but Leicester took their chance when it came to frustrate Bruno Lage in his first match in charge of Wolves.
The Foxes started well, with Vardy, James Maddison and Youri Tielemans at the heart of their play.
Wolves were threat on the counter attack through Adama Traore, and the game’s pattern was quickly set, as Leicester dominated possession.
Traore fired a warning when he tore through the centre of the pitch after Tielemans’ poor corner, but they didn’t learn their lesson.
He burst in again on 36 minutes, meeting a superb pass and going one-on-one with Kasper Schmeichel. Somehow, though, he missed the target from close range.
With just four minutes remaining before half time, Leicester went ahead. Vardy pulled across to the near post to meet Ricardo’s cross with a superbly delicate finish.
After the break, Wolves played with more purpose. Ki-Jana Hoever was much more involved down the right-hand side, and he found Raul Jimenez, starting his first game since fracturing his skull in November, with a pinpoint cross. The Mexican’s header was tame, and summed up Wolves’ frustrations.
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At the other end, almost instantly, Harvey Barnes led a quick Leicester counter attack. But as he approached the area, he ignored Vardy’s run, and was dispossessed.
Traore again proved to be Wolves’ greatest threat, bullying substitute Jannik Vestergaard, making his Leicester debut, before failing to connect with the shot.
The visitors carved out a couple more chances, with Max Kilman and late introduction Morgasn Gibbs-White forcing last-ditch blocks from Leicester defenders, but they couldn’t force their way through in the end.