Leicestershire

Kate Blakemore
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Despite passing some unwanted milestones this season, including eight games without a league goal and almost five months since a home goal, the only remaining milestone left for us to pass is the magical 200 Leicester goals for Jamie Vardy.

We're at three games left, and only one goal to go, following his lovely finish against Saints at the weekend.

It will perfectly conclude a highly decorated 13 years with the Foxes and Jamie, who is now level with Robin Van Persie on 144 Premier League goals, will want to finish his tenure as he started it - scoring goals - to leave behind his legacy as Leicester's greatest ever player.

As the sun sets on Jamie's career at Leicester, it's starting to rise on some bright young prospects emerging from the academy. Jeremy Monga, Jake Evans and Michael Golding all featured at the weekend, which has got fans looking to the future and life post Vardy. Monga - the second youngest Premier League player of all time - comfortably held his own, and fans would like to see more youth prospects thrown into the mix for the final three games, in what are effectively three dress rehearsals for the Championship campaign.

While, understandably, there has been hesitation from Ruud Van Nistelrooy to drop Vardy, his hesitation is two-fold in his resistance to play many from the academy set up for extended periods. But in the words of Sir Matt Busby, 'if you're good enough, you're old enough'.

The last few games will epitomise the lifecycle of both a football player and fan as a legend of the club leaves his post to make room for potential future legends. The 'out with the old and in with the new' has never felt more heightened than it does now. Time waits for no man and Vardy is no exception but one can't help but feel that we can't wholeheartedly move on until he leaves.

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Leicester City goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk says manager Ruud van Nistelrooy's backing has given him the "confidence" to go into the final three games of this season and "help the team", after being second choice to Mads Hermansen throughout this campaign.

Hermansen will not play again this season after having groin surgery - and there are rumours the Dane could be set for a move away from King Power Stadium this summer.

Stolarczyk spoke to BBC Radio Leicester about being given the opportunity to stake his claim to be number one next season: "It gives me a lot of confidence to go into the game and play the way I've always wanted to.

"It's nice to just be myself. I've always wanted to be playing. I'm there to help the team control and win the games - and hopefully not have to make too many saves!

"The manager has just told me to be myself. He told me I've already impressed him in the games I've played in.

"It's difficult coming into games when you haven't played for a few months, but I think I'm doing OK. Maybe there have been a few dodgy things, but I kind of expect that.

"I've got a good relationship with Mads. We're always pushing each other, whether it was last season or this season. We're always working hard in training. I think his performances and my performances show how well we have been training together.

"The work we have been doing in our goalkeeping union - with [Danny] Wardy, Daniel [Iversen], Mads and myself - has been fantastic."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

The latest episode of the When You're Smiling podcast has landed.

This week, Jack Rafferty and Rob Tanner from The Athletic are joined by former Foxes winger Matt Piper to discuss the small wins Leicester City can take from Saturday's victory against Southampton - one clean sheet, two goals and three points!

They also speak to goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk after he kept a clean sheet against the Saints.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Mark Scott
Final Score reporter

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Among the relief at both long-awaited goals and points at King Power Stadium, there was still a noticeable undercurrent of dissent.

Once again, Leicester City's director of football Jon Rudkin came in for stick, with cries of "Sack the board" very audible as well.

In his programme notes, chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said "there are decisions to be made", significant as these are his first comments since the club's relegation from the top flight was confirmed.

While questions about the future of Ruud van Nistelrooy will likely be top of his agenda, the supporters made it clear once again that their dissatisfaction lies further up the food chain.

Even the first goals they had seen on home turf since December were not going to distract them from that.

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We asked for your views on Leicester's Premier League match against Southampton.

Here are some of your comments:

Leicester fans

Ian: Firstly great to finally see a win. Team all played as one, with fight and grit. The movement all round was excellent. Great for Jamie Vardy too. Hopefully Leicester give him a testimonial for his 13 years of service and loyalty. Will miss him.

Andy: Makes a change to come away smiling. A win is a win, even against a very poor Southampton. Just need Vardy to get that 200th goal now.

James: This game meant very little other than try to build confidence for the difficult season ahead. It was the beginning of Vardy's farewell and a chance to flaunt some future talent. Southampton were without doubt the worst opposition we had at home this season, and we overcame them with little difficulty but the eerie atmosphere said it all. Still systemic change needed across the club, as well as that elusive internal review.

Kiran: Good win and really pleased for Vardy, but a bit too late. Ruud van Nistelrooy has to go and I am glad Mads Hermansen did not play. He is the weakest link and should be sold in the summer.

Southampton fans:

Mark: That was a gutless, lazy, pathetic excuse of a performance Saints. No effort, no desire to get forward, weird substitutions yet again. An absolute car crash display against the second worst team.

Glenn: Terrible display. The players are supposed to be professional but all season game after game it hasn't changed. They must feel so embarrassed being the worst of the worst and the owners should take full responsibility for this.

Matt: An embarrassment to our city. An embarrassment to the Premier League. 99% of that team can go, and I also wish we'd never been promoted. Sports Republic really don't know what they are doing.

Jack: I watched Saints under Ian Branfoot and that was terrible. This lot are worse.

Highlights and analysis from Saturday's Four Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from Friday's game between Manchester City and Wolves.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Everton 2-2 Ipswich

• Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth