Vardy: Scoring record ‘unbelievable’

LEICESTER

Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy described his achievement as “unbelievable” after he set a new Premier League record by scoring for the 11th game running on Saturday.

Vardy, 28, struck in the 24th minute of a 1-1 draw with Manchester United at the King Power Stadium to break a record he had previously shared with former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Watching a replay of his ecstatic goal celebration after the game on Sky Sports, he said: “Unbelievable. I think I got a bit carried away with myself.”

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

Vardy struck with his first chance of note, haring onto a pass from Christian Fuchs down the inside-right channel and drilling a shot across United goalkeeper David de Gea.

It was his 14th goal of the league campaign, which makes him the division’s top scorer, and comes just three years after he was playing for Fleetwood Town in English football’s semi-professional fifth tier.

Asked by former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel what he had been shouting to the crowd as he celebrated, Vardy smiled and said: “I don’t think I can repeat it, to be honest with you!”

VARDY IS DANGEROUS

Speculation as to whether Vardy would claim the record outright had been rife since he equalled it in last weekend’s 3-0 win over Newcastle United and he said that he done his best to block it out.

“If I let it get to me, then it’s going to affect my performance, so I’ve just been keeping my head down, not let it sink in my head and just concentrate,” said the England international.

“It’s just another game that we wanted to try and get three points in.”

United goal-scorer Bastian Schweinsteiger said: “Vardy is playing really well and is dangerous. He runs in the channels. He did well to break the record.”

VARDY'S FORM

Vardy’s scoring sequence began with a late penalty in a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth on August 29 and has also included braces against Arsenal and Southampton.

Van Nistelrooy’s record had stood since 2003, but unlike Vardy, the Dutchman’s run was spread over two seasons.

Alan Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time leading scorer with 260 goals, also offered congratulations, tweeting: “Congratulations @vardy7 what a magnificent achievement!!!”

Former Liverpool and Manchester United striker Michael Owen tweeted: “Take a bow Jamie Vardy! What an incredible story that just keeps going on and on.”

Vardy’s record concerns matches played since the Premier League was formed in 1992 and he now has two other English top-flight records in his sights.

Sheffield United’s Jimmy Dunne scored in 12 successive games in the top division in 1931-32, while Stan Mortensen scored in 15 consecutive top-flight appearances for Blackpool in 1950-51, but missed games through injury during that sequence.

'FIGHTING RELEGATION'

Claudio Ranieri also led the tributes to Vardy but the Leicester manager is still only interested in ensuring his team remains clear of relegation.

The popular Italian has presided over an astonishing start to the campaign for his unfashionable club and Vardy’s goal brought a well-earned 1-1 draw with Manchester United, a result that keeps both clubs in contention at the top of a table currently being led by Manchester City. 

It was the 11th straight game in which Vardy has scored — a new Premier League best — and the first time a player has achieved that mark in the top division since Blackpool’s Stan Mortensen 65 years ago.