Monday 25 April 2016 07:20, UK
Jamie Redknapp believes that as long as Leicester keep their back five fit, they will win their first-ever top flight title, regardless of whether Jamie Vardy's ban is extended.
The absence of Vardy, who could see his ban for his reaction to his red card against West Ham extended, led to questions about whether the Foxes would be able to cope without their prolific forward, but they silenced any doubters with an emphatic display in the 4-0 Super Sunday success over Swansea at the King Power Stadium.
While Vardy's replacement Leonardo Ulloa grabbed the headlines with a timely double, the Foxes rearguard deserves credit for standing firm once again, and Redknapp insisted that a defence and goalkeeper that has kept six clean sheets in their last seven league outings could be the most pivotal factor in helping Leicester complete their title dream.
"As long as that back four and goalkeeper are in place, I don't fear for them," Redknapp said. "I saw Danny Simpson play at QPR, and I can't believe it is the same player.
"[Christian] Fuchs at left-back is amazing, going forward, set pieces, he has got the lot.
"In [Kasper] Schmeichel they have a great 'keeper. That is key for the next few games. They can go without Vardy if they keep that defence together.
"This Leicester side break the rules. They win with very little possession, and play a 4-4-2 system - I thought teams did not adopt that formation anymore.
"They are doing things that I did not think would win a Premier League title.
Thierry Henry was similarly complimentary of Leicester's efforts without Vardy, and doubted if there was anything that could halt their quest for title glory.
"It's a different game when you play at home," Henry said. "You want Vardy when you go away from home. You want that pressure that he has, he's always in your face, he always runs in behind.
"But they showed us today that they can cope without him. I know it's at home and 'easier', especially with the way the game started, but they answered all the questions every time.
"There's going to be another one - a massive one - but I think that team is showing us they can perform without him."
