Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester City shocked the world last season when after 23 wins, 12 draws and 81 accumulated points, they took the Premier League title home to the King Power for the first time in the history of the East Midlands club. Though amidst the hype of the Foxes’ names being engraved on the famous old trophy as well as impending Champions League football, they were brought hurtling back to earth on the first day of the season after a surprise 2-1 defeat at Hull.
Last week’s goal-less draw at home to Arsenal steadied the ship for Ranieri’s side, and now it was third time lucky on the Matchday III weekend of the new season, when they managed to claim their first win of their title defence, goals from Jamie Vardy and captain Wes Morgan enough to see off Francesco Guidolin’s Swansea City side 2-1, the visitors pulling back a late consolation through a Leroy Fer header.
Jamie Vardy’s initial strike will have brought relief to the swathes of Leicester supporters in attendance, whose team hadn’t managed a goal from open play until Vardy hit home via the post after being played in behind by a superb through ball from Danny Drinkwater.
And as playing conditions deteriorated as a storm rolled into the East Midlands, Wes Morgan’s finish, bundling home from a corner, will have brought about sheer euphoria for the supporters, and a real relieving of pressure for manager Claudio Ranieri.
But as the champions held on for their first victory of the season, what did we learn from Saturday afternoon’s Matchday III clash at the King Power?