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Jamie Vardy’s penalty double gave Leicester the perfect start to their Premier League campaign at West Brom.
The forward scored 23 goals last season to claim the Golden Boot and scored his first goals of the new season on Sunday to close Sunday 3-0.
They came after Timothy Castagne’s first goal opened the scoring in the second half.
Albion, who returned to the top flight after two years, impressed in the first half but weakened once it fell behind, as Leicester’s experience and extra quality in the top flight indicated.
The Foxes were pressured, but were ultimately comfortable winners, even with a patched defense that included Wilfred Ndidi as an emergency center back.
Albion was disciplined and orderly early in his return to the top flight with threats from Matheus Pereira and Grady Diangana in the future, but they ultimately lacked penetration.
A Callum Robinson center rolled across the six-yard box, but despite his fair and diligent play, Albion seemed limited going forward.
Gradually Leicester came to life and Harvey Barnes fired straight at Sam Johnstone after cutting Dennis Praet after 30 minutes.
Then, Vardy shot Johnstone on his first chance of the game.
It was a warning and Albion responded with his best start of the time, Schmeichel saved Pereira’s low effort four minutes before the break.
The avalanche of opportunities aside, it had been a low-key game and the second half continued along the same lines until the Foxes scored the first goal in the 56th minute.
Fears had surrounded Leicester’s lack of summer business with Castagne, his only senior signing ahead of what will be a hectic campaign, which includes the Europa League.
But the left-back, who came from Atalanta in a £ 21.5 million deal, eased some initial fears by becoming an unlikely debut scorer.
Praet broke free down the left and threw a cross for Castagne to get past Kieran Gibbs and head from six yards.
It was their first goal since Atalanta scored against Shakhtar in the Champions League in December.
The goal dropped Albion and Johnstone had to flip Youri Tielemans’ drive as Leicester tried to find a second killer.
It came with 16 minutes remaining when Kyle Bartley pulled Vardy back into the area.
Referee Anthony Taylor allowed play to continue and, when Johnstone denied Barnes, pointed out the spot.
Vardy was right, he sent Johnstone down the wrong path and celebrated by cupping his ears in an empty Smethwick End.
His second came 10 minutes later when Dara O’Shea dropped James Justin and the former England striker crashed on his second shot from point of view.
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