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Jamie Vardy’s double sealed the Championship title for Leicester City with a game to spare as the Foxes cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win over Preston.
Leicester’s No 9 opened with goals either side of half-time, with Casey McAteer putting the cherry on top with a third goal to send Enzo Maresca’s side on their way to a title-sealing win.
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 clash with Blackburn at the King Power Stadium, which will decide whether or not the Foxes reach the 100-point mark. .
It means Pep Guardiola’s side have won the second tier for the second season in a row, following Vincent Kompany’s Burnley among the Maresca 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 responded quickly to score his second
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Casey McAteer made it 3-0 for Leicester
How Leicester did the job
With Leicester only three points clear of their mission in second place, Enzo Maresca made four changes from his regular squad, giving Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, James Justin, Mads Hermansen and Steffi Mavididi the night off.
And with Preston in tenth place and nothing clear to play for, the match began more like a pre-season game than an end-of-season classic.
But the Foxes dominated and Vardy put his side ahead but was equal to Freddie Woodman’s close-range effort. McAteer had another good chance to break the deadlock but headed over from a few yards out.
Jamie Vardy captains Leicester at Preston
Leicester finally took the lead on 36 minutes when Wilfried N’Didi fed Abdul Fatawu down the right after a perfect team move back. He found Yunus Akgun in the box, who squared for Vardy – the striker scraped the ball off the post to give the Championship leaders a deserved opener.
Vardy took just seven minutes into the second period to double his tally and Leicester’s advantage. This time, Woot made a brilliant run into the box before crashing a shot off the face post. The rebound fell kindly to Vardy who was on hand to smash the ball into the roof of the net.
Vardy had his hat-trick but was denied when Woodman played through the goal. Instead, McTeer got that third goal by heading in Fatau’s cross. This time he could not escape.
Casey McAteer (right) joins Vardy in the act
Fatah almost got in on the act but crashed a late drive onto the post. At the other end, Preston had the first shot on target after 92 minutes.
Only one team performed on the pitch on the night, after full-time only one team celebrated on the pitch until the April night.
managers
Ryan Lowe of Preston:
To follow…
Enzo Maresca of Leicester:
To follow…
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