Things are not likely going to be rosy for Leicester’s new manager Brendan Rodgers who replaced Claude Puel following a dwindling performance of the club but the former Celtic boss has been given a poor welcome by his opponents, Watford.
Troy Deeney insists there will be no Watford “meltdown” this season after the Hornets continued their impressive campaign with a late victory over Leicester in Brendan Rodgers’ first game in charge of the Foxes.
Second-half substitute Andre Gray finished coolly past Kasper Schmeichel in injury time to lift the hosts level on points with seventh-placed Wolves.
Deeney had given Watford an early lead, heading Gerard Deulofeu’s cross past Schmeichel.
Jamie Vardy appeared to have earned the visitors a point with a low finish from Youri Tielemans’ pass, but Gray’s goal clinched the win for the Hornets.
Watford won only one of their last nine league fixtures last season and suffered six consecutive defeats at the end of the 2016-17 campaign, but Deeney is confident Javi Gracia’s side can maintain their push for a Europa League spot.
“We aren’t happy to win just one and lose three,” he said. “We want to make sure we finish as high as we can. The media have said after January there will be a Watford meltdown.
“Egos are out of the window, everyone is trying. Look at the depth of the squad – everyone is willing to fight.”
Watford stay in eighth place due to their inferior goal difference to Wolves, while Leicester remain 11th following a seventh defeat in 10 league games.
After watching Leicester’s 2-1 win over Brighton from the stands on Tuesday, Rodgers promised his new charges that there are “special things on the horizon” at the club.
Rodgers shares his predecessor Claude Puel’s penchant for promoting young talent, but it is his reputation for attractive, attacking football that has got Foxes fans dreaming of a brighter future.
The travelling supporters had little to shout about in the early stages though, as Watford took the game to their opponents from the outset.
Schmeichel had to be on his toes to deny Adrian Mariappa after just three minutes, before Wes Morgan – named alongside Jonny Evans and Harry Maguire in City’s back three – blocked Deulofeu’s shot on the follow-up.
Rodgers will be disappointed with his team’s defending for Deeney’s opener, although replays suggested that Watford’s top scorer was marginally offside from Deulofeu’s delivery.
The Foxes improved as the game wore on, however, registering 14 attempts compared to Watford’s six over the course of the 90 minutes.
Clear-cut opportunities were few and far between though until Vardy sprinted onto Tielemans’ excellent through-ball and finished past Foster for his 10th goal of the campaign.
Vardy, 32, has now scored the first Premier League goal under each of Leicester’s last four permanent managers, Claudio Ranieri, Craig Shakespeare, Puel and now Rodgers.