Leicester: Manchester United’s Theatre of Nightmares

“You can see what it means to the fans. We know we can play anyone, we exploited their weaknesses and we got the result. We know we have goals in us and we put our chances away,” added Vardy, who put Leicester in front for the first time with the fourth goal after 79 minutes.

Manchester United had beaten Leicester in nine of their last 10 league meetings, and drawn the other, since Leicester last beat United in the league in January 1998.

Stunned United manager Louis van Gaal told the BBC: “I think the spectators have seen a fantastic spectacle today and we started well and scored fantastic goals. But you have to win the game and we didn’t do that. We didn’t keep ball possession in the right way. We have too many players who want to seek for the goal. Leicester have already showed against Arsenal and Stoke that they can come back and they did it very well.”

United led 2-0 inside 16 minutes with goals from Robin van Persie and Angel di Maria. Leonardo Ulloa pulled one back for Leicester in the 17th minute before Ander Herrara put United 3-1 up after 57 minutes. Leicester then replied with four goals from a David Nugent penalty after 62 minutes, an equaliser from Esteban Cambiasso after 64 minutes, the fourth from Vardy after 79 minutes and the fifth from Ulloa with an 83rd minute penalty.

“In the world of football, these matches happen. I was a coach at Barcelona in my first year and we were 3-0 ahead, with 15 minutes to play and we lost 3-4. It is not good because we have the game in our pocket and gave it away. Not because of Leicester, we gave it away and I don’t like that.”

FIRST WIN

In the other early match West Bromwich Albion climbed off the bottom of the table when they won their first match of the season, 1-0 at out-of-sorts Tottenham Hotspur who started the season well but have now lost their last two home matches. The only goal at White Hart Lane was headed home by James Morrison after 74 minutes. Crystal Palace too lodged their first win as they came from behind to beat beat Everton 3-2 at Goodison Park.

But all the drama came at Leicester where United raced into a 2-0 lead after 16 minutes with a header from Van Persie and a brilliant chip from Di Maria. Leicester struck back immediately when a Vardy cross found Ulloa who headed past David De Gea from 10 metres out.

United appeared to have secured all three points when Herrera back-heeled them 3-1 ahead after 57 minutes.

Leicester replied when Nugent scored from the spot after 62 minutes before Cambiasso equalised with a low left shot two minutes later to make it 3-3.

The penalty though, was the turning point of the game and was a controversial decision by referee Mark Clattenburg who allowed Vardy to barge Rafael just outside the box. As the two players continued to tussle, Rafael brought down the striker and Clattenburg pointed to the spot with Nugent converting.

That made it 3-2 to United but Leicester were level two minutes later when Cambiasso scored and Vardy then put Leicester ahead for the first time making it 4-3 after Juan Mata lost possession.

Ulloa cracked home the fifth from the spot after Blackett was sent off for another challenge on Vardy. The result sent Leicester rocketing up to sixth in the table with United languishing in 13th spot.

Chelsea’s finest denies finest Chelsea

Manchester: Frank Lampard, Chelsea’s all-time record scorer, came on as a late substitute for Manchester City and scored their equaliser in a 1-1 draw at the Etihad as the champions ended the leaders’ perfect start to the Premier League season.

Lampard, who scored 211 goals for Chelsea and is on loan at City from MLS side New York City, scored in the 85th minute after only six minutes on the pitch. Andre Schuerrle had put Chelsea ahead in the 71st minute, five minutes after City defender Pablo Zabaleta had been sent off for fouling Diego Costa.

“It’s a really difficult one. I’d be unprofessional if I came on and didn’t do my job so I’m mixed with it,” he told Sky Sports. “I’m obviously pleased that the side I came on for got a draw. It’s come up, I’m a professional and I didn’t expect to come on and score. I’m stuck in the middle.

“The Chelsea fans were singing my name and it was an emotional day. It’s not how I expected to say goodbye to the Chelsea fans. I woke up this morning and didn’t know what I wanted from today so I’m glad it’s out of the way. I guess this is a happy medium.”

The result left Manchester City in sixth place on eight points.