Watford 1 Leicester 5: Relegated Hornets thumped by Foxes as Jamie Vardy and Harvey Barnes both score twice

JAMIE VARDY toasted ten years at Leicester with a killer double in a FIVE goal clobbering to keep them in the top ten.

The Leicester striker became the second oldest player in Prem history to hit back-to-back braces, after his two against Norwich in the match prior.

Harvey Barnes netted a brace against already relegated WatfordCredit: Reuters

Jamie Vardy scored twice in a 5-1 victoryCredit: PA

Aged 35 years and 124 days, Vardy is second behind only Youri Djorkaeff, 36-years-old and 60 days, for Bolton in May 2004.

Vardy joined the Foxes in May 2012 for £1million from Fleetwood in a move that raised eyebrows at the time, but his performance at Vicarage Road showed he’s not ready to hang his boots up just yet.

The Hornets began strutting their stuff in front of their new boss Rob Edwards, who was unveiled to fans before kick off, ahead of taking over next season in the Championship.

The eagerness to impress the former Forest Green chief could be seen all over Watford’s redhot start which saw Joao Pedro rifle in an early opener.

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Leicester eye Joe Worrall but defender will stay at Forest if they are promoted

But Leicester hit back in a sizzling four minutes with goals from James Maddison who then assisted Vardy to double the lead

Harvey Barnes continued the demolition with a third just 19 SECONDS after the break, before Vardy added another and Barnes wrapped things up.

Corner kicks seem to be a cheat code for any team playing Leicester so it was no real shock that was how Watford found their breakthrough just five minutes in.

Several Foxes players including Youri Tielemans failed to clear the danger from Ken Sema’s delivery, which bobbled towards Joao Pedro to smash home a half-volley.

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Watford were in the driving seat, with two quick-fire chances to double the lead with Adam Masina rattling the bar and Joao Pedro forcing Danny Ward into a superb stop.

But if Leicester can’t defend corners, then the horrific four minutes that ensued showed Watford can’t defend at all.

Craig Cathcart and Adam Mesina ran into each other as they tried to deal with a long ball allowing Youri Tielemans to tee up James Maddison.

Joao Pedro initially put Watford 1-0 up before Leicester ran riotCredit: Getty

James Maddison levelled things up for the FoxesCredit: Alamy

The Leicester midfielder took one touch before cracking his tenth Prem goal beyond Ben Foster on 18 minutes.

Watford’s shambolic defending continued with Maddison pouncing straight onto a loose Edo Kayembe ball to float a cross to Vardy who headed past Foster, who was wildly out of goal.

Some fans had only just returned to their seats after sloshing back half-time pints when the visitors inflicted another blow just after the restart.

Marc Albrighton came on for Nampalys Mendy and after a Maddison flick on he charged forward to clip a perfect cross to the back post on only his third touch,

Waiting was a lethal, unmarked Barnes to steer in a volley.

The fourth arrived when a simple ball over the top that found Vardy who easily shrugged off Craig Cathcart to poke home on 70 minutes.

Barnes sealed the win after running onto Maddison’s pass before cracking the ball into the bottom corner in the closing stages.

Here’s how the action unfolded…

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk

Watford 1 Leicester 5: Relegated Hornets thumped by Foxes as Jamie Vardy and Harvey Barnes both score twice

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