Jamie Vardy’s double sealed the Championship title for Leicester City with one game to spare as the Foxes cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win over Preston.
Leicester’s No 9 got the party started with goals either side of half-time to send Enzo Maresca’s side on their way to a title-sealing victory, before Kasey McAteer put the cherry on the top with a third goal.
The full-time whistle brought jubilant scenes for Maresca, his staff and his players – who will receive the Championship trophy after Saturday’s final day encounter with Blackburn at the King Power Stadium, which will determine whether the Foxes reach the 100-point mark or not.
It also means the second tier has been won by a Pep Guardiola disciple for the second season in a row, with Maresca following Vincent Kompany’s Burnley in being Championship top dogs.
WATCH: The goals that sealed Leicester’s crown
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Jamie Vardy opened the scoring with a quick turn and finish
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Vardy reacted quickly to score his second
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Kasey McAteer put Leicester 3-0 up
How Leicester got the job done
With Leicester just three points from mission accomplished regarding the second tier, Enzo Maresca made four changes from his regular side, giving Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, James Justin, Mads Hermansen and Stephy Mavididi the night off.
And with Preston in tenth spot and with nothing tangible to play for, the match started like a pre-season game, rather than an end-of-season classic.
But the Foxes dominated and Vardy nearly gave his side the lead but Freddie Woodman was equal to his close-range effort. McAteer had an even better chance to break the deadlock but headed over from a few yards out.
Jamie Vardy gives Leicester the lead at Preston
Leicester eventually took the lead on 36 minutes after a perfect team move out the back saw Wilfried N’Didi feed Abdul Fatawu down the right. He found Yunus Akgun in the box, who squared to Vardy – the striker scuffing the ball in off the post to give the Championship leaders a deserved opener.
It took Vardy just seven minutes of the second period to double his tally and Leicester’s advantage. This time, Wout Faes went on a mazy run inside the box before crashing a shot off the post. The rebound fell kindly to Vardy, who was on hand to smash the ball into the roof of the net.
Vardy nearly had his hat-trick but he was denied by Woodman when played through on goal. Instead, it was McAteer who got that third goal, heading in Fatawu’s cross. This time he couldn’t miss.
Kasey McAteer (right) joined Vardy in on the act
Fatawu nearly got in on the act but crashed a late drive onto the post. At the other end, Preston’s first shot on target came after 92 minutes.
There was only one team on the pitch performing on the night, there was only one team on the pitch celebrating long into the April night after full-time.
The managers
Preston’s Ryan Lowe:
To follow…
Leicester’s Enzo Maresca:
To follow…
