YELLOW CARDpublished at 46 mins
Preston 0-1 Leicester
If this is to be Alan Browne's final Preston game at Deepdale, he's got a leaving card...
The 29-year-old Irish international goes into the book after a cynical haul back in midfield.
Summary
Leicester wrap up Championship title before final game of the season
Jamie Vardy double either side of half-time put Foxes in control
Kasey McAteer added third to ensure top spot
Leicester become first club to win second tier eight times
YELLOW CARDpublished at 46 mins
KICK-OFFpublished at 46 mins
Preston 0-1 Leicester
45 minutes from history... on we go...
Last Vardy Party?published at 21:02 British Summer Time 29 April
HT: Preston 0-1 Leicester
Image source, PA MediaHere's a thought to scramble your mind... could that be Jamie Vardy's last Leicester goal?
Only one game to come this season after tonight and at present he has seemingly not agreed a new contract at the King Power.
Do you think he can cut it in the Premier League next season? Let us know via the usual channels...
Saturday's Final Championship fixturespublished at 20:56 British Summer Time 29 April
All games kick-off at 12:30 GMT
After this game and tomorrow's whopping great clash between Coventry and Ipswich are done and dusted, it all comes down to this... and at present there is something riding on as many as seven of the final day fixtures.
- Birmingham v Norwich
- Coventry v Queens Park Rangers
- Ipswich v Huddersfield
- Leeds v Southampton
- Leicester v Blackburn
- Middlesbrough v Watford
- Plymouth v Hull City
- Rotherham v Cardiff
- Stoke v Bristol City
- Sunderland v Sheffield Wednesday
- Swansea v Millwall
- West Bromwich Albion v Preston North End
Of course we'll be with you every step of the way tonight, tomorrow night, and on Saturday afternoon too, right here...
Get Involvedpublished at 20:51 British Summer Time 29 April
#bbcefl, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
Yusef: As a Leicester fan I am happy that we are going up. However, I worry with the potential points deduction and the quality of the current squad that we might go straight back down. There is one player who may be available after a spat with his current manager- and may improve our team (tongue in cheek).
James, Leicester: I may be wrong but for the last 3 seasons running Im sure Huddersfield’s first home opponents had gone on to be promoted…….now it’s 4
That's right James. Huddersfield faced Norwich in 2020-21, Fulham in 2021-22 and Burnley last season - all of which went on to be champions, so a good omen for Leicester.
'No sweat for Leicester'published at 20:50 British Summer Time 29 April
HT: Preston 0-1 Leicester
Steve Eyre
Co-commentator on BBC Radio LancashireIt's been a real comfortable 45 minutes. Leicester have not broke a sweat. It could have been a much worse scoreline for Preston if Leicester wanted it to be but they are comfortable. It's like a training exercise for them.
HALF-TIMEpublished at 20:49 British Summer Time 29 April
Preston 0-1 Leicester
Image source, PA MediaJamie Vardy lifted the Championship trophy 10 years and seven days ago.
Tonight he's scored the goal which has put the Foxes within 45 minutes of another title.
INJURY TIMEpublished at 45 mins
Preston 0-1 Leicester
One added minute. You know you're having fun when you can get your manager to wave to you from the touchline after only three rounds of 'Enzo, give us a wave...'
CLOSE!published at 43 mins
Preston 0-1 Leicester
Here they come again, Abdul Fatawu's poked cross on the stretch from the right of the area is glanced on by the head of Ricardo Pereira but straight into the grateful arms of Preston keeper Freddie Woodman.
'Preston in their bibs'published at 20:47 British Summer Time 29 April
Preston 0-1 Leicester
Steve Eyre
Co-commentator on BBC Radio LancashireA bit disheartening at the moment. It's just one team passing the ball around. It's like Preston have their training bibs on.
Postpublished at 40 mins
Preston 0-1 Leicester
As a football fan, these are the moments you dream of. You've secured your primary goal already, nobody can take promotion away from you, now you're winning 1-0 in a game which could seal you the title and you're singing your heart out in the away end.
I'm sure last season wasn't much fun, but my goodness Leicester fans have been spoilt for special memories in the past 10 years.
Postpublished at 20:41 British Summer Time 29 April
Preston 0-1 Leicester
Image source, PA MediaNot sure about two yet, but Leicester certainly have one hand on the trophy thanks to that Jamie Vardy opener.
'Vardy's fooled everyone'published at 20:40 British Summer Time 29 April
Preston 0-1 Leicester
Steve Eyre
Co-commentator on BBC Radio LancashireIt's an easy goal.
What we see from Jamie Vardy is that he's running on the blind side and gets into the penalty area. He's fooled everybody. Only those types of players, score those types of goals.
GOAL: Preston 0-1 Leicesterpublished at 20:38 British Summer Time 29 April
Jamie Vardy
Image source, Rex FeaturesFitting.... it had to be him on a night like this, I suppose. That is 17 for the season for Jamie Vardy.
He's certainly kit cleaner strikes than this. Leicester have broken at pace with Abdul Fatawu freed down the right and then playing in Yunus Akgun in the box to clip back into the middle where evergreen Vardy swivels and bobbles his shot into the corner past Freddie Woodman.
Leicester will be champions tonight if they hold this lead.
Postpublished at 32 mins
Preston 0-0 Leicester
Abdul Fatawu tries to bustle his way in from the right this time but slips as he tries to get a pass off, the ball breaks back to him just as he gets back to his feet but his first-time effort on the left-foot is incredibly high and very, very wide.
Leicester fans are amusing themselves by going through their entire back-catalogue of chants.
CLOSE!published at 29 mins
Preston 0-0 Leicester
Abdul Fatawu is played in behind the defence on the right, he narrowly evades a blue balloon and whips an inviting cross towards the back post where Kasey McAteer is racing in to plant a header firmly into the... oh... he's missed.
His head is in his hands. I know he's not started since mid-February but even a rusty winger should put those chances away.
Hoots of derision from the soggy home fans.
'Pre-season friendly'published at 20:30 British Summer Time 29 April
Preston 0-0 Leicester
Steve Eyre
Co-commentator on BBC Radio LancashireIt's a pre-season friendly. There's no speed in the game, no 1v1, no tackles. It's a real calm existence.
I just wish Preston North End would put more fire into the game - it's on their home ground.
Postpublished at 25 mins
Preston 0-0 Leicester
Image source, Getty ImagesTell you what the weather might be mid-November but the crowd are in end of season mode. Another beachball intervention required.
Just hope the football doesn't become dead-rubber fare.
Postpublished at 22 mins
Preston 0-0 Leicester
Ricardo Pereira's sublime flick into the path of Yunus Akgun in the box sees the Leicester man's eyes light up but Liam Lindsay is on hand to produce a sliding block to deny his right-footed strike.
Some gorgeous approach play on a pretty ugly night.
GREAT SAVE!published at 19 mins
Preston 0-0 Leicester
Kasey McAteer glides in from the left across a series of Preston defenders and fires in a low shot from the edge of the box but it lacks real power and Preston keeper Freddie Woodman gets down low to his right to hold with ease.
Jamie Vardy has now scored 190 goals for Leicester City in 12 years with the club
Jamie Vardy’s double helped Leicester City clinch the Championship title as the already-promoted Foxes cruised to a crowning victory at Preston North End.
The 37-year-old former England striker, whose goals previously fired the Foxes to a Premier League title and FA Cup glory, added to his reputation as a Leicester legend with a goal in each half to take his season tally to 20 in all competitions.
Kasey McAteer added a third with a close-range header for a completely dominant Leicester, who have become the fourth club – after Burnley, Fulham and Norwich - in as many years to make an immediate Premier League return as Championship title winners following relegation.
Leicester can now equal a 104-year record for most second division wins – set by Tottenham in the 1919-20 season with 32 – when they host Blackburn on the final day of the campaign on Saturday.
The 31 wins the Foxes already have equals the club record, matching the side that went up a decade ago.
Victory would also see Leicester become the first club to twice win promotion to the top flight by amassing 100 points or more.
Foxes boss Enzo Maresca, who was appointed after they dropped out of the Premier League, said going back up as title winners was a "fantastic" achievement after a "tough, difficult and intense" campaign.
"In the end we did it and we have brought this club to where it deserves to be," he told BBC Radio Leicester.
"In this moment the relief is big, but now it is time to enjoy it."
- Published28 April
- Published26 April
Tenth-placed Preston, whose lingering play-off aspirations were snuffed out by QPR nine days earlier, made the Foxes work hard for their first-half chances as they tried to avoid having the Championship trophy hoisted by Leicester at Deepdale.
Preston goalkeeper Freddie Woodman rushed off his line to deny Vardy, then saved well again soon after to foil McAteer, who went on to squander a huge headed chance from close range just before the half-hour mark.
Leicester’s leading scorer Vardy eventually gave the visitors a deserved lead with a scuffed first-time finish as he swivelled on to a Yunus Akgun cutback to find the bottom corner.
When he pounced for his second early in the second half, smashing the rebound home after Wout Faes crashed a shot off the post, Vardy had the visiting fans joyously celebrating a coronation party.
In his 12 years with Leicester, Vardy has now scored 190 goals in 463 appearances.
The striker was there 10 years ago when they last won promotion and the Championship title and, after symbolising all the success that followed, he returned with the Foxes to the second tier once more.
His dominant presence and goals have been vital in returning Premier League football to King Power Stadium but with the striker out of contract in the summer, the value of his continued presence will undoubtedly be emotively debated in the coming weeks.
"Jamie has always scored goals in his life and he will score goals always," said Foxes boss Maresca.
"He has helped us a lot this season on and off the pitch - him, Marc Albrighton, Conor Coady, Jannik Vestergaard and all the experienced players."
It took a smart save from Woodman to deny Vardy a memorable hat-trick, but McAteer did make it 3-0 soon after as he nodded home after being found unmarked by Abdul Fatawu – who then went on to hit the woodwork in search of a fourth.
Leicester City won the Championship title with a game to spare
Preston North End boss Ryan Lowe told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"It was tough. They are a good team, aren’t they?
“The first goal is hard to take when you are not far off half-time. We knew they would have large passages of play and control of play, and the first goal was a bit of a sucker punch.
“We asked the players to be a little bit braver in the second half, and get up a bit. But when you see the three goals, you can’t give a team like Leicester those types of opportunities because they can punish you."
Related topics
Championship Scores & Fixtures
Championship Table
On Monday 29th April
Skip to table keyMatch Participants:
- Leicester City, Position 1, Points 97
- Preston North End, Position 10, Points 63
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 45 | 31 | 4 | 10 | 89 | 39 | 50 | 97 |
| |
| 2 | 45 | 27 | 9 | 9 | 80 | 41 | 39 | 90 |
| |
| 3 | 44 | 26 | 12 | 6 | 88 | 56 | 32 | 90 |
| |
| 4 | 45 | 25 | 9 | 11 | 85 | 62 | 23 | 84 |
| |
| 5 | 45 | 21 | 10 | 14 | 79 | 63 | 16 | 73 |
| |
| 6 | 45 | 20 | 12 | 13 | 67 | 47 | 20 | 72 |
| |
| 7 | 45 | 19 | 13 | 13 | 68 | 59 | 9 | 70 |
| |
| 8 | 45 | 19 | 9 | 17 | 68 | 61 | 7 | 66 |
| |
| 9 | 44 | 17 | 13 | 14 | 68 | 55 | 13 | 64 |
| |
| 10 | 45 | 18 | 9 | 18 | 56 | 64 | -8 | 63 |
| |
| 11 | 45 | 17 | 11 | 17 | 53 | 47 | 6 | 62 |
| |
| 12 | 45 | 19 | 5 | 21 | 51 | 65 | -14 | 62 |
| |
| 13 | 45 | 15 | 12 | 18 | 59 | 64 | -5 | 57 |
| |
| 14 | 45 | 13 | 17 | 15 | 60 | 58 | 2 | 56 |
| |
| 15 | 45 | 16 | 8 | 21 | 52 | 52 | 0 | 56 |
| |
| 16 | 45 | 15 | 11 | 19 | 44 | 55 | -11 | 56 |
| |
| 17 | 45 | 14 | 11 | 20 | 45 | 57 | -12 | 53 |
| |
| 18 | 45 | 14 | 11 | 20 | 45 | 60 | -15 | 53 |
| |
| 19 | 45 | 13 | 11 | 21 | 58 | 74 | -16 | 50 |
| |
| 20 | 45 | 14 | 8 | 23 | 42 | 68 | -26 | 50 |
| |
| 21 | 45 | 12 | 12 | 21 | 58 | 70 | -12 | 48 |
| |
| 22 | 45 | 12 | 11 | 22 | 49 | 65 | -16 | 47 |
| |
| 23 | 45 | 9 | 18 | 18 | 48 | 75 | -27 | 45 |
| |
| 24 | 45 | 4 | 12 | 29 | 32 | 87 | -55 | 24 |
|
Key
- Position 1 - 2 : Promotion
- Position 3 - 6 : Promotion Play-off
- Position 22 - 24 : Relegation
Team Lineups
home team, Preston North End
Manager: Ryan Lowe
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Pitch Formation
1, Woodman, Goalkeeper
26, Whatmough, Defender
6, Lindsay, Defender
16, Hughes, Defender
23, Millar, Midfielder
18, Ledson, Midfielder
8, Browne, Midfielder
11, Brady, Midfielder
7, Keane, Attacking Midfielder
10, Frökjaer-Jensen, Attacking Midfielder
28, Osmajic, Striker
Starting lineup
- Number 1, F. Woodman
- Number 16, A. Hughes , Yellow Card at 54 minutes
- Number 6, L. Lindsay
- Number 26, J. Whatmough
- Number 11, R. Brady , Yellow Card at 62 minutes
- Number 8, A. Browne , Captain, Yellow Card at 46 minutes, substituted for N. Mawene at 86 minutes
- Number 18, R. Ledson , substituted for D. Holmes at 80 minutes
- Number 23, L. Millar
- Number 10, M. Frøkjær-Jensen , substituted for L. Stewart at 86 minutes
- Number 7, W. Keane , substituted for T. Mawene at 86 minutes
- Number 28, M. Osmajić , substituted for E. Riis at 68 minutes
Substitutes
home team, Preston North End
- Number 33, K. Best
- Number 21, D. Cornell
- Number 3, G. Cunningham
- Number 9, C. Evans
- Number 25, D. Holmes , Yellow Card at 90 minutes plus 1
- Number 19, E. Riis
- Number 35, N. Mawene
- Number 31, T. Mawene
- Number 17, L. Stewart
away team, Leicester City
Manager: Enzo Maresca
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Pitch Formation
41, Stolarczyk, Goalkeeper
21, Ricardo Pereira, Defender
4, Coady, Defender
23, Vestergaard, Defender
3, Faes, Defender
29, Akgün, Midfielder
8, Winks, Midfielder
25, Ndidi, Midfielder
18, Fatawu, Striker
9, Vardy, Striker
35, McAteer, Striker
Starting lineup
- Number 41, J. Stolarczyk
- Number 3, W. Faes
- Number 23, J. Vestergaard
- Number 4, C. Coady
- Number 21, Ricardo Pereira
- Number 25, W. Ndidi , substituted for H. Choudhury at 70 minutes
- Number 8, H. Winks
- Number 29, Y. Akgün , substituted for K. Dewsbury-Hall at 75 minutes
- Number 35, K. McAteer , substituted for S. Mavididi at 70 minutes
- Number 9, J. Vardy , Captain, substituted for T. Cannon at 75 minutes
- Number 18, A. Fatawu , substituted for J. Justin at 84 minutes
away team, Leicester City
- Number 28, T. Cannon
- Number 17, H. Choudhury
- Number 20, P. Daka
- Number 22, K. Dewsbury-Hall
- Number 5, C. Doyle
- Number 30, M. Hermansen
- Number 2, J. Justin
- Number 10, S. Mavididi
- Number 26, D. Praet
home team, Preston North End
Manager: Ryan Lowe
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Pitch Formation
1, Woodman, Goalkeeper
26, Whatmough, Defender
6, Lindsay, Defender
16, Hughes, Defender
23, Millar, Midfielder
18, Ledson, Midfielder
8, Browne, Midfielder
11, Brady, Midfielder
7, Keane, Attacking Midfielder
10, Frökjaer-Jensen, Attacking Midfielder
28, Osmajic, Striker
Starting lineup
- Number 1, F. Woodman
- Number 16, A. Hughes , Yellow Card at 54 minutes
- Number 6, L. Lindsay
- Number 26, J. Whatmough
- Number 11, R. Brady , Yellow Card at 62 minutes
- Number 8, A. Browne , Captain, Yellow Card at 46 minutes, substituted for N. Mawene at 86 minutes
- Number 18, R. Ledson , substituted for D. Holmes at 80 minutes
- Number 23, L. Millar
- Number 10, M. Frøkjær-Jensen , substituted for L. Stewart at 86 minutes
- Number 7, W. Keane , substituted for T. Mawene at 86 minutes
- Number 28, M. Osmajić , substituted for E. Riis at 68 minutes
Substitutes
- Number 33, K. Best
- Number 21, D. Cornell
- Number 3, G. Cunningham
- Number 9, C. Evans
- Number 25, D. Holmes , Yellow Card at 90 minutes plus 1
- Number 19, E. Riis
- Number 35, N. Mawene
- Number 31, T. Mawene
- Number 17, L. Stewart
away team, Leicester City
Manager: Enzo Maresca
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Pitch Formation
41, Stolarczyk, Goalkeeper
21, Ricardo Pereira, Defender
4, Coady, Defender
23, Vestergaard, Defender
3, Faes, Defender
29, Akgün, Midfielder
8, Winks, Midfielder
25, Ndidi, Midfielder
18, Fatawu, Striker
9, Vardy, Striker
35, McAteer, Striker
Starting lineup
- Number 41, J. Stolarczyk
- Number 3, W. Faes
- Number 23, J. Vestergaard
- Number 4, C. Coady
- Number 21, Ricardo Pereira
- Number 25, W. Ndidi , substituted for H. Choudhury at 70 minutes
- Number 8, H. Winks
- Number 29, Y. Akgün , substituted for K. Dewsbury-Hall at 75 minutes
- Number 35, K. McAteer , substituted for S. Mavididi at 70 minutes
- Number 9, J. Vardy , Captain, substituted for T. Cannon at 75 minutes
- Number 18, A. Fatawu , substituted for J. Justin at 84 minutes
Substitutes
- Number 28, T. Cannon
- Number 17, H. Choudhury
- Number 20, P. Daka
- Number 22, K. Dewsbury-Hall
- Number 5, C. Doyle
- Number 30, M. Hermansen
- Number 2, J. Justin
- Number 10, S. Mavididi
- Number 26, D. Praet
- Referee:
- Sam Allison
- Assistant Referee 1:
- Blake Antrobus
- Assistant Referee 2:
- Alex James
- Fourth Official:
- Josh Smith
Match Officials
Match Stats
Key, Preston v LeicesterOverall Possession
Shots
Preston North End 5Leicester City 19Shots on target
Preston North End 1Leicester City 11Shots off target
Preston North End 3Leicester City 7Blocked shots
Preston North End 1Leicester City 1Total touches in the box
Preston North End 7Leicester City 34Goalkeeper saves
Preston North End 8Leicester City 1Fouls
Preston North End 9Leicester City 7Corners
Preston North End 1Leicester City 5Season so far
Championship
Key, Preston v Leicester
Form guide
All competitions
Preston North End lose
v Queens Park Rangers
1
0
Championship
Leicester City won
v Southampton
5
0
Championship
Preston North End lose
v Southampton
3
0
Championship
Leicester City won
v West Bromwich Albion
2
1
Championship
Preston North End lose
v Norwich City
0
1
Championship
Leicester City lose
v Plymouth Argyle
1
0
Championship
Preston North End won
v Huddersfield Town
4
1
Championship
Leicester City lose
v Millwall
1
0
Championship
Preston North End draw
v Watford
0
0
Championship
Leicester City won
v Birmingham City
2
1
Championship
Previous meetings
All competitions
Preston North End and Leicester CityPreston North End Won 13Leicester City Won 11Draw 13
Played
37
Previous scores
All competitions
Championship
Leicester City 3 , Preston North End 0 on the 4th of October 2023
Leicester City
Preston North End
4th of October 2023
Club Friendlies
Preston North End 1 , Leicester City 2 on the 23rd of July 2022
Preston North End
Leicester City
23rd of July 2022
Preston North End 1 , Leicester City 1 on the 2nd of August 2014
Preston North End
Leicester City
2nd of August 2014
- Skip back to previous scores
- Skip back to previous meetings
- Skip back to form guide
- Skip back to season so far
Match Facts
Preston North End have failed to win any of their last four league games against Leicester City (D1 L3), last beating the Foxes in a 2-1 success in September 2009.
Leicester City are unbeaten across their last six away league games against Preston North End (W2 D4), keeping three clean sheets in the process. Across those six matches, neither side has scored more than one goal in a single game.
Preston North End have lost their last three league matches, failing to score in each defeat. They haven’t lost four in a row since December 2019, which was also while failing to find the net each time.
Leicester City have won 13 away Championship matches this season. The Foxes have only ever won more away league games in two seasons, winning 14 in both 2008-09 and 2013-14.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall had a hand in 13 goals in his first 15 away Championship matches this season (5 goals, 8 assists) but he hasn’t scored or assisted a goal in any of his last seven away matches.