FOX IN THE BOX AT IT AGAIN
Veteran Jamie Vardy’s goal earns Leicester City point against Tottenham Hotspur
Leicester, England - Veteran striker Jamie Vardy earned newly-promoted Leicester City a 1-1 draw with a profligate Tottenham Hotspur in their Premier League season opener on Monday.
Spurs dominated the first half but Pedro Porro's opener in the 29th minute was the only time they could make one of a host of good chances count.
More clear-cut opportunities came and went after the break,
Leicester scored, the crowd lifted and we lost our composure. It was an issue we had last year as well, we need to keep working hard and be a bit more ruthless in front of goal. At times we made poor decisions.
"It's not our football or effort. To get results you need to be a lot more ruthless in the final third. If we don't we won't get the rewards our football deserves."
Spurs' evening went from bad to worse when midfielder Rostriker Dominic Solanke the biggest outlay.
The former Bournemouth forward, playing Premier League football again after a year back in the second tier, should have opened his Spurs account in the first half at the King Power Stadium.
Some wayward finishing from Solanke ensured Leicester were let off the hook early on, before Porro arrived on the end of a James Maddison cross to guide home the opening goal. The second half appeared to be a matter of how many Spurs would score, with Solanke again guilty of wasting gilt-edged opportunities.
Vardy, however, made no mistake when presented with his chance to snatch a point for Leicester and the 37-year-old collected the eighth Premier League opening-day goal of his career, a tally bettered only by Liverpool's Mohamed Salah.
Vardy's goal was his 137th in 308 Premier League appearances, with 103 of those strikes coming since he turned 30. He has explained the sense of responsibility that he feels to his team-mates in making himself available and staying as fit as possible.
"I see age as just a number," Vardy said. "As long as I keep looking after myself and my legs keep feeling great, then I will carry on for as long as is physically possible.
"I wouldn't say I am doing anything differently playing-wise. Probably adapted a bit by dropping in but I think the main thing is I am looking after myself recovery-wise to the maximum."
I see age as just a number. As long as I keep looking after myself and my legs keep feeling great, then I will carry on for as long as is physically possible. JAMIE VARDY