Leicester Citys Argentinian striker Leonardo Ulloa celebrates after scoring the second goal from the penalty spot to equalise 2-2 during their English Premier League match against West Ham United at the King Power Stadium in Leicester on Sunday.
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Jamie Vardy faces an additional ban after being charged by the FA.
Claudio Ranieri’s side lead Tottenham by eight points with four matches of their campaign remaining, though Spurs can cut that gap to five if they win at Stoke.
But Hodgson insists he has no problem with Vardy’s attitude, saying: “You take everything that the player brings with him”.
The sanction relates to his reaction following his second-half dismissal in the Foxes’ 2-2 Barclays Premier League draw with West Ham on Sunday.
“I don’t see that as a dive”, Hodgson said.
“I think that if Leicester are there, it’s also because the big clubs have not given 100 percent until now, for one reason or another”, the Foxes manager said. But again, I will go out on a limb.
“I think there was a very slight contact with the defender [West Ham’s Angelo Ogbonna], who was trying to cover”. Vardy confronted referee Jon Moss, jabbing a finger at the match official while appearing to express his anger at receiving his marching orders. Maybe it’s harsh, but I can totally understand him getting that yellow card.
When ex-professionals then defend the decisions based, apparently, on the fact the referee warned Huth and Morgan but hadn’t said a word to Ogbonna, then the rabbit is very seriously disappearing down the hole.
The challenge of playing without so crucial a player is a significant one, and the question as to how they should replace him is tricky, with a few possible options standing out.
Vardy has scored 22 Premier League goals this season, with only Spurs striker Harry Kane having scored more on 24. So where is the pressure for us? Our players will have it drummed into them that they must keep their cool, don’t lose your temper, don’t run the risk that they are going to upset you and get you sent off.
“Always I believe we could fight back”. “We did enough to win the game and deserved to win it”. Really, I don’t know.
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“If the other team, it could be Tottenham or Arsenal, is better than us and win the title, well done”.
