Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy made history by scoring for the 11th English Premier League match running in his side’s 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United on Saturday.
The England forward struck in the 24th minute, running onto Christian Fuchs’ pass and arrowing a shot past David de Gea to break a record he had previously shared with former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Van Nistelrooy, whose record had stood since 2003, was quick to congratulate Vardy, writing on Twitter: “Well done @vardy7! You’re number one now and you deserved it. #11inarow.”
Photo: AFP
The record capped a remarkable rise for 28-year-old Vardy, who was playing non-league soccer in 2012 and had been playing in the seventh tier of English football as recently as 2010.
It was his 14th goal of the campaign, which makes him the league’s top scorer, but Bastian Schweinsteiger’s 46th-minute header — his first United goal — prevented Leicester from reclaiming first place.
Instead, Claudio Ranieri’s side finished the day in second place, a point above United, with Manchester City top on goal difference after overcoming Southampton 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium.
Kevin de Bruyne scored for the first time in six games to put City ahead and went on to create goals for Fabian Delph and Aleksandar Kolarov, with Shane Long replying for Southampton.
“I was very pleased with the team’s reaction,” said City manager Manuel Pellegrini, whose side were beaten by Liverpool and Juventus in their two previous games. “We were a little nervous until the third goal, but I am happy with the performance and the result.”
Sergio Aguero gave City fans cause for concern when he hobbled off midway through the second half, but Pellegrini said that his substitution was merely “a precaution.”
Pellegrini was forced to do without injured goalkeeper Joe Hart, who was replaced by Willy Caballero.
However, the hosts went in front in the ninth minute when Raheem Sterling robbed Maya Yoshida and crossed for De Bruyne to tap in from close range.
De Bruyne’s corner in the 20th minute allowed Delph to crown his first league start for City with his first goal for the club, a long-range shot that deflected in off Virgil van Dijk.
Long reduced the arrears with a header from a Sadio Mane’s cross early in the second half, but Kolarov restored City’s two-goal cushion by lashing in from De Bruyne’s cross in the 70th minute.
Aguero had departed by that stage, having turned his ankle as he landed after challenging for a high ball, but City were able to welcome back both Wilfried Bony and David Silva from injury.
Crystal Palace coach Alan Pardew oversaw a 5-1 victory for his side that sent his former employers, Newcastle United, into the relegation zone, increasing the pressure on his struggling successor Steve McClaren.
Papiss Cisse put Newcastle ahead with a 10th-minute header, but Palace hit back through Wilfried Zaha and braces from Yannick Bolasie and James McArthur.
“We have to bring the fans what they want and that is not it,” McClaren said. “We are in a relegation fight, no doubt about that, but we have to work hard on the training field.”
AFC Bournemouth moved above Newcastle, but remain in the bottom three, after a thrilling finale at Dean Court saw them fight back twice to hold Everton to a 3-3 draw.
After Ramiro Funes Mori and Romelu Lukaku put Everton in control, Bournemouth hit back to level through a spectacular long-range strike by Adam Smith and an 87th-minute effort from Junior Stanislas.
Ross Barkley looked to have given Everton victory when he restored their lead in the fifth minute of stoppage time, only for Stanislas to snatch an implausible equalizer with a cool header three minutes later.
Sunderland climbed out of the relegation places at Newcastle’s expense with a 2-0 home win over Stoke City, Patrick van Aanholt and Duncan Watmore scoring late on after visiting captain Ryan Shawcross was sent off.
Aston Villa remain bottom and are now seven points from safety after a 3-2 home defeat by Watford left new manager Remi Garde without a win in three matches.
Villa captain Micah Richards canceled out Odion Ighalo’s 17th-minute opener for Watford, but an Alan Hutton own-goal and a Troy Deeney header gave Watford the points. Jordan Ayew netted a late consolation for Villa.
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