Swansea City vs Leicester City - Garry Monk urges defenders to end Vardy's fairytale run

Posted Saturday, December 05, 2015 by PA

Swansea plan to end Jamie Vardy's amazing goalscoring streak this weekend, says manager Garry Monk.

Leicester hot-shot Vardy heads to the Liberty Stadium having scored against Manchester United last weekend for a record-breaking 11th consecutive Barclays Premier League game.

But Vardy would match English record holder Jimmy Dunne, who netted in 12 consecutive matches for Sheffield United between October 1931 and January 1932, by scoring against the Swans on Saturday.

Monk says Vardy's exploits are appreciated at Swansea as, like the Welsh club who have climbed through the divisions, the England striker has progressed from humble origins with a well-documented journey from non-league football.

But Monk insists his defenders are primed for the challenge of shutting out Vardy for the first time in a Premier League game since Tottenham held him at bay on August 22.

"To score those goals in that number of consecutive games is very difficult in any league, but to do at the top level in British football is even harder," Monk said.

"He's been exceptional and it's a great story as well from where he's come from. He's done it the hard way.

"We obviously have good experience of coming up through the leagues and players who have played non-league and come through to this level, so our club will appreciate a story like that.

"But it's our job to put an end to that story and I'm sure our defenders will be thinking about that going into the game.

"We've tried this week to counteract their strengths, but also concentrate on ours."

Second-placed Leicester have lost only once in the league this season - 5-2 at home to Arsenal at the end of September - but many observers feel they will struggle to keep pace with bigger clubs as the campaign unfolds.

Monk, however, would not be surprised if the Foxes last the course and continue to challenge at the top of the table.

"They have every right to think that way (staying up there) and have every chance of doing so," Monk said.

"No-one's really performing better than them right now and I would not be surprised if they maintain it.

"There's no clear leader and no-one pulling away. It's quite a tight bunch at the top."

Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri believes ever ready Vardy will always power the Foxes as the striker chases another record.

The England forward will match the all-time top-flight goal streak if he scores at Swansea.

Sheffield United's Jimmy Dunne holds the record having netted in 12 consecutive games in the old First Division in 1931-32.

Vardy beat Ruud van Nistelrooy's Barclays Premier League achievement when he scored in his 11th straight game to earn a 1-1 draw with Manchester United last Saturday.

He is the league's 14-goal top scorer and Ranieri knows the 28-year-old will never need to recharge his batteries.

He said: "It is difficult to explain, my friend in Italy asked me 'what has this Vardy got?'

"To explain I said I believe if Vardy takes a light bulb, the bulb switches on - he is electric.

"It is good energy - I'll bring him into my house so I don't pay the electricity. He wants to play every week and is very brave."

Vardy has played with broken bones in his wrist this season while he has also nursed a hip problem during his record run.

"Each of us have a grade of the pain," said Ranieri.

"Maybe to one man it is nothing and to another man it hurts. Everyone has their range of pain.

"It is difficult , if you ask some players how they are they say: 'It is good'."

The Foxes are second in the top flight, having lost just once in the league all season, and face a Swansea side with one victory in their last 11 games.

But Ranieri, who is without Ritchie de Laet (ankle) for a month, believes Swans boss Garry Monk can learn from his tough time.

He added: "It's the right time for him to understand more. When you win sometimes you don't understand. When you lose you can compare the victory and defeat. When you win everything is fantastic, when you lose you say 'what happened?' and then you start to think."