Jamie Vardy served his one-game suspension for a red card on Sunday as his Foxes played host to Swansea City. Many believed Vardy’s absence would have a major effect on Leicester City’s title hopes, especially if he is further suspended later this week.
Nevermind all that talk, as the Foxes came out and smashed the Swans 4-0 with his replacement, Leonardo Ulloa putting up a brace in one of his rare opportunities to start.
Vardy’s partner in crime this season — Riyad Mahrez — also made it known he didn’t need Vardy to become effective. Mahrez instead took advantage of an awful passing attempt from Swansea captain Ashley Williams and slotted home the game-winner just 10 minutes in to the match.
It was his 17th goal of in 33 appearances this season.
Ulloa would make sure to give Leicester its nearly impossible lead to give up, 2-0, in the 30th minute. However, things would get really out of hand in this match as the Swans gave up a second horrific ball in the back and watched as the Foxes pounced once again.
This time it was a bad attempt at pressing and a missed attempt on the ball that led to a Leicester breakout and Ulloa slotting it home sliding literally in to the back post for a 3-0 lead in the 60th minute.
This game was so in hand that Marc Albrighton, who hadn’t scored since the opening match of the season, decided to join in the party and netted a late 4th goal in the 85th minute.
However, things could’ve been very different had referee Mark Clattenburg decided to call a first-half penalty for a hand ball on the play that led up to Williams’ blunder. Instead, Clattenburg was unmoved by the Swans’ calls for the penalty and the rest is history.
With just three games to play and up by eight points (pending the result of Tottenham vs. West Brom on Monday), Ulloa’s heroics gave Leicester City the exact answer to Spurs’ own 4-0 result last weekend.
Games against Manchester United, Everton and Chelsea are on the horizon and five points will be needed to clinch the title. If the Foxes play like they did today in Vardy’s absence, this team is going to be nearly impossible to beat when the English sensation returns to action.
From 5,000-to-1 odds of the title to within one win and a Spurs defeat from clinching the title.
Making a statement without talisman Jamie Vardy? Perhaps even more incredible given the pressure of the title chase.
