Watford 2-1 Leicester: Andre Gray strikes late to hand Brendan Rodgers defeat in first game in charge

Watford 2-1 Leicester: Jamie Vardy had equalised for the Foxes after Troy Deeney's opener but the Hornets won it in stoppage time

Brendan Rodgers named Leicester City manager

Brendan Rodgers suffered disappointment on his Premier League return as his first game in charge of Leicester ended in a 2-1 defeat at Watford after Andre Gray’s injury-time winner.

Rodgers is back in England’s top flight for the first time since October 2015 when he was sacked at Liverpool following his appointment as Claude Puel’s replacement earlier this week.

And it looked like being a respectable start to his Foxes reign as Jamie Vardy’s 10th goal of the season cancelled out Troy Deeney’s early header.

But the game ended in the same way as it started as Gray struck in the closing moments to inflict an opening defeat on Rodgers and deliver a fourth win from five for the Hornets.

Rodgers will now eye his first win next Saturday with a home game against Fulham.

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Key Points

• Troy Deeney put the Hornets ahead 
• Jamie Vardy equalised for the Foxes 
• But Andre Gray denied Brendan Rodgers a point in his first game with a late winner

[3 March 2019 12:37 · Kishan Vaghela]

37 min: Watford 1-0 Leicester City

It's not gone his way so far, and Harry Maguire vehemently appeals for a penalty to be given after appelaing that the ball struck the arm of Mariappa from a corner, but there's nothing doing.

A frustrating afternoon for this man as well so far. 

[3 March 2019 12:42 · Kishan Vaghela]

41 min: Watford 1-0 Leicester City

There's been some nice interchanges between the Leicester attackers but as yet they have not really threatened.

Maddison and Barnes have looked to link up with Vardy as often as possible but Mariappa has been excellent to thwart their efforts.

[3 March 2019 12:46 · Kishan Vaghela]

45 min: Watford 1-0 Leicester City

A tepid end to the half here, with Watford probing down their left-hand side, but to no avail as two minutes are added on.

[3 March 2019 12:47 · Kishan Vaghela]

Half Time: Watford 1-0 Leicester City

It's been a mixed performance from both sides really, but it is Watford who take the lead heading into the break thanks to Troy Deeney's fifth-minute header.

The hosts dominated the opening exchanges and it was their captain who headed home from Deulofeu's excellent free-kick delivery. 

But Leicester fought back and there was intensity in their play if not quite the accuracy to finish, but Watford came back into it to as the teams ended the half on even terms.

But the scoreline is not and it will be Rodgers who will have more thnking to do in his first half-time team talk with Lewicester.

[3 March 2019 12:59 · Kishan Vaghela]

The difference between the sides at the moment.

[3 March 2019 13:03 · Kishan Vaghela]

46 min: Watford 1-0 Leicester City

Back underway at Leicester, and Rodgers persists with his system and the starting XI.

Can they turn it around?

[3 March 2019 13:07 · Kishan Vaghela]

50 min: Watford 1-0 Leicester City

Fervent chants from the Leicester City fans after a subdued start to the second half.

But there is no shortage of big news from  Fulham vs Chelsea, where there's a return for Chelsea's Kepa. Teams coming very soon. 

[3 March 2019 13:08 · Kishan Vaghela]

  ↵Here is the team news for the game at Craven Cottage which comes after the conclusion of the action from Vicarage Road.

[3 March 2019 13:10 · Kishan Vaghela]

53 min: Watford 1-0 Leicester City

Another excellent save from Schmeichel!

He parries away Doucoure's long-range strike away from danger.

[3 March 2019 13:13 · Kishan Vaghela]

55 min: Watford 1-0 Leicester City

Javi Gracia is usually quite a calm character, but he is fuming here as the referee fails to award a free-kick for a challenge by Ndidi which stops another Watford attack.

The fans' usual chant of you don't know what you're doing is less surprising though.