by Leicester coach Ruud van Nistelrooy knew his side’s comeback with a 2-2 draw against Brighton would not have been possible without Jamie Vardy.
Van Nistelrooy’s honeymoon seemed to end abruptly when the Seagulls took a 2-0 lead at the King Power thanks to goals from Tariq Lamptey and Yankuba Minteh.
The experienced Vardy proved he is still the Foxes’ main man by scoring the equalizer in the 86th minute and then getting Bobby De Cordova-Reid’s equalizer in the 90th minute.
“When you are on the scoresheet and provide an assist, you have to say that this result would not be possible without him,” he said.
“It is of course also the performance of the entire team that puts him in the right position.
“I enjoyed the whole sequence up until the goal. And that’s why we took him there as a team.
“And that’s why we want these players who can make the difference for us in their position.
“Then Jamie had the awareness of that second goal. Because I think you know that when it comes to strikers, their focus is on goals.
“But having the awareness, playing the route to Bobby, pretty good skills, that was a brilliant moment because so late in the game, in the 90th minute, it went through my head.
“And if you have the calm and composure to decide on these things, then that is absolutely top class. We’re glad we have that.
“If you don’t pass, you have to score. I think he made sure we achieved that goal.”
The result will feel as bad as a defeat for Brighton, who were in complete control and missed the chance to move up to fifth in the table.
It is the second time this season they have blown a 2-0 lead due to late goals and head coach Fabian Hurzeler says his team needs to become more “matured”.
“I think if you are 2-0 up and control the whole game, not allowing your opponent too many shots and then something happens within 10 minutes, you should be disappointed,” said coach Fabian Hurzeler.
“We were punished for simple mistakes. I think this happens several times a season now, so we have to learn.
“We have to find the right way to lead the game during this time in order to take the three points.
“But in the end I think it’s our fault, it’s our responsibility. We have to be much more mature.
“We need to be much more clear about how we resolve things in the last five, six minutes, then these things won’t happen.”
