Leicester City 2-0 Watford: Vardy penalty helps Foxes beat Hornets

James Maddison returned from suspension to score his fourth goal of the season for Leicester against Watford

Leicester City manager Claude Puel compared James Maddison to Glenn Hoddle after the midfielder's superb goal ensured a comfortable victory over Watford.

The England Under-21 midfielder made the points secure after juggling Marc Albrighton's searching pass on his foot and knee before dispatching a sumptuous effort past Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster.

The Foxes are now unbeaten in five Premier League matches, while for Maddison it represented a chance to atone for his red card at Brighton last week.

And Puel - who played with Hoddle at Monaco - suggested the 22-year-old's talent is reminiscent of the former Tottenham and England midfielder.

Hoddle, who played for Spurs, Monaco, Swindon and Chelsea between 1975 and 1995, and also managed his country in the 90s, is regarded as one of the finest midfielders of his generation.

He is currently recovering from a heart attack he suffered in October.

"There's a comparison there because he [Maddison] can invent some different moves," Puel said.

When asked if he had seen a goal like Maddison's, Puel replied: "Yes, with Glenn Hoddle - and I would like to wish Glenn all the best in this moment.

"After his sending-off he [Maddison] wanted to give a good reward for his team mates, to come back. He was very upset with himself last week."

Jamie Vardy's first-half penalty had put Leicester ahead, with the forward converting from the spot for the second week running after being brought down by Foster.

While the visitors created a series of chances, their day went from bad to worse in the second half with midfielder Etienne Capoue dismissed for a two-footed tackle on Kelechi Iheanacho late on - a decision the Hornets say they will appeal.

The result leaves Watford, who have won just twice in their past 10 fixtures, in 10th while Leicester move up to eighth.

• Watford fans thanked for Srivaddhanaprabha banners

Incisive Leicester cut through

While Watford dominated possession with 62% it was the hosts who demonstrated the greater attacking thrust, largely thanks to the pace and movement of their front four.

While Nampalys Mendy and Wilfred Ndidi laid the platform in midfield, the quartet of Vardy, Maddison, Albrighton and Demarai Gray prospered on the counter-attack.

Vardy's run off the shoulder of Watford defenders Craig Cathcart and Adrian Mariappa resulted in Foster clattering in to him for the Leicester penalty - the 13th the former England forward has converted out of 15 attempts in the top flight.

And a sweeping riposte initiated by Maddison from a Watford attack then brought the second goal, with Vardy turning Mariappa and Albrighton picking out the midfielder, who had raced 50 yards to receive his pass.

Leicester continued in the same vein after the break.

Content to soak up pressure, Ricardo Pereira's surge forward from full-back then released Gray, who smashed his shot against the post.

Watford fail to fire

Watford manager Javi Gracia had suggested his team needed to rediscover their cutting edge in the build-up to this game.

But having managed just one goal in their previous three matches, there were few signs his players were close to recovering their goal-scoring instincts at the King Power Stadium.

Instead it was more of the same for the Hornets, who also have a question mark over their form on the road, with this defeat their 14th in their past 19 matches away from Vicarage Road.

Top scorer Roberto Pereyra's form is symptomatic of those troubles.

Four of the five goals scored by the Argentine this season have been at home and he passed up a glorious chance to reduce the gap early in the second half.

But he was not the only one guilty of wasting opportunities.

Isaac Success fired over when through on goal and substitute Andre Gray missed three excellent chances as Gracia's team battled in vain to retrieve the two-goal deficit.

"We created the chances but we didn't shoot on target. We need to improve these situations. We are losing points because we are not efficient," said Gracia.

Man of the match - James Maddison (Leicester City)

James Maddison added goal threat to his intelligent link-up play, scoring a glorious goal with one of his two shots on target

Penalty-winner Vardy - the stats

• Leicester City have won all five of their home Premier League matches against Watford, scoring 10 goals and conceding just once.

• Watford have won just one of their past 12 away matches at the King Power Stadium against Leicester in all competitions (D2 L9), a 2-1 victory in April 2013 in the Championship.

• Since the start of the 2014-15 season, Jamie Vardy has won more penalties in the Premier League than any other player (14).

• All three of Vardy's Premier League goals against Watford have been at the King Power Stadium.

• James Maddison has been directly involved in four goals in his six Premier League home games for Leicester this season, scoring three and assisting one.

• Watford's Etienne Capoue was sent off in a league game in Europe's top five divisions for the first time since May 2013 for Toulouse versus Sochaux.

What's next?

Leicester travel to Fulham on Wednesday 5 December (19:45 GMT) for their next Premier League fixture while Watford host leaders Manchester City on Tuesday 4 December (20:000 GMT).