Jamie Vardy: Leicester City striker breaks EPL record against Manchester United

Jamie Vardy struck in Leicester City’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United Saturday to break the Premier League record for goals scored in consecutive matches.

The livewire forward, who has spent much of his career playing in the English lower leagues, rushed on to Christian Fuchs’ pass after 24 minutes to sweep the ball low beyond United goalkeeper David de Gea.

The tidy finish gave Leicester the lead and marked the 11th straight game Vardy has found the net, surpassing the record set by former United and Netherlands striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy in 2003.

Van Nistelrooy was quick to congratulate Vardy, posting on Twitter: “Well done @vardy7! You’re number one now and you deserved it. #11inarow.”

Bastian Schweinsteiger drew United level by powerfully heading home a Daley Blind corner seconds before halftime.

And despite golden chances for Leicester’s Leonardo Ulloa and United’s Memphis Depay in the second period, neither side could grab a winner

The result means unheralded Leicester was replaced at the top of the EPL table by Manchester City, which comfortably defeated Southampton 3-1 earlier in the day, on goal difference while United dropped to third.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Vardy said he was “delighted to have got the goal” if frustrated with the final result.

“It’s a bit disappointing the way we conceded their goal because it could have been three points,” said Vardy, who made his England debut in June.

“On another day it could have gone another way but a draw is a fair result. We have come away with a point from a match against a very good side.”

Although the match was being played between teams that went into the weekend in first and second position in the EPL table, all the pre-match talk was on whether Vardy could break Van Nistelrooy’s scoring record.

And despite donning a flash pair of golden boots for the occasion, Vardy was quick to emphasize his work rate and modest approach as prerequisites for his recent success.

“I’ve just been taking each game as it comes. The record was not in my mind, it would have affected my performance and the team’s, and that’s the last thing I wanted to do,” he said.

“I can think about it when I am home but as soon as I cross the white line all I should be concentrating on is my football. That’s what I have been doing and exactly what I will continue to do.”

Dramatic finish

There was a dramatic finish at Dean Court as Everton and Bournemouth both scored in injury time to share the spoils in a 3-3 draw.

Everton had edged to a 2-0 lead at halftime thanks to goals from Ramino Funes Mori and Romelu Lukaku before being pegged back by goals from Adam Smith and Junior Stanislas.

Ross Barkley looked to have won it for the Merseysiders with a 95th-minute strike but there was still time for Stanislas to notch his second goal of the day and secure a vital point for Bournemouth with virtually the last kick of the game.

Aston Villa suffered a 3-2 defeat at home to Watford leaving it further marooned at the bottom of the EPL table. Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney struck either side of an Alan Hutton own goal for the Hornets. Micah Richards and Jordan Ayew did score for Villa but it wasn’t enough for the Birmingham club, which has now not won in 13 Premier League games.

Elsewhere, goals from Patrick van Aanholt and Duncan Watmore gave struggling Sunderland a vital 2-0 home win over Stoke City, which had Ryan Shawcross sent off.

However, Sunderland’s northeast of England rivals Newcastle suffered a humiliating 5-1 defeat at Crystal Palace. Papiss Cisse opened the scoring for the Magpies but goals from James McCarthur (twice), Wilfried Zaha and Yannick Bolasie (also twice) ensured Palace manager Alan Pardew enjoyed a comfortable win against his previous club.

English Premier League scores and standings

Arsenal denied

Sunday’s action saw Arsenal miss the chance to draw level on points with Manchester City at the top, held 1-1 at Norwich after taking the lead through Mesut Ozil on the half hour mark.

Lewis Grabban leveled for the home side just before half time and the Canaries had other chances to grab all the points as Arsenal disappointed.

The Gunners stay fourth, two points ahead of North London rival Tottenham, which drew 0-0 with Chelsea in a hard-fought early kick off, the 13th EPL match without defeat for Spurs. “Our best game of the season,” the verdict of Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho but his team is 14th, 14 points adrift of the top.

Liverpool’s improvement under Jurgen Klopp continued with a 1-0 win over Swansea, courtesy of a second half penalty from James Milner, lifting the Merseysiders to sixth.

West Ham and West Bromwich Albion shared two goals in a 1-1 draw.