Published: 16:56 EDT, 29 April 2024 | Updated: 17:22 EDT, 29 April 2024

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]]]]>]]>Leicester are champions and how appropriate it was Jamie Vardy who got the party started.

The 37-year-old declared 'my legs are fine' pre-match as Leicester weigh up whether to offer him a new contract and another shot at the Premier League.

'10 are years' and 'sign him up' sang 5,700 exultant Leicester fans at Deepdale and perhaps Vardy could still cause some damage at the highest level.

It was certainly weird to think these might be his last goals for the Foxes after an extraordinary 12 years.

Leicester could yet face punishments and points deductions for their financial losses next season but all that can wait - this was a night purely for celebration.

Beat Blackburn on Saturday and Enzo Maresca's team will also rack up a century of points and that milestone seems appropriate for their high standards this season, even if a few wobbles threatened to derail things.

Jamie Vardy scored twice as Leicester beat Preston 3-0 to clinch the Championship title

MATCH FACTS Preston North End (3-4-1-2): Woodman; Whatmough, Lindsay, Hughes; Millar, Ledson (Holmes 80), Browne (c) (Stewart 86), Brady; Frokjaer-Jensen (N. Mawene 86); Keane (T. Mawene 86), Osmajic (Riis 69)

Subs not used: Cornell (GK); Cunningham, Best, Evans

Manager: Ryan Lowe

Booked: Browne, Hughes, Holmes

Leicester City (4-3-3): Stolarczyk; Pereira, Coady, Vestergaard, Faes; Ndidi (Choudhury 71), Winks, McAteer (Mavididi 71); Fatawu (Justin 84), Vardy (c) (Cannon 75), Akgun (Dewsbury-Hall 75)

Subs not used: Hermansen (GK); Doyle, Praet, Daka

Manager: Enzo Maresca

Scorers: Vardy 37, 52; McAteer 67

Referee: Sam Allison

Maresca was celebrating with his coaching staff when he found his home invaded by several players but for Vardy - synonymous with Leicester partying in recent years - it was an early night this time.

The Leicester fans who packed one end of Deepdale were more than happy to keep the festivities going another night.

There was even a stoppage in the early minutes to pop all the blue and white balloons they unleashed and referee Sam Allison handed a deflated beach ball to the fourth official.

For Leicester's players, dead rubber was the last thing on their minds as they slowly hit their stride, helped by a stand-offish Preston, who really didn't have anything to play for.

Vardy darted in behind their rearguard with a curved run to reach a Yunus Akgun pass but Freddie Woodman was equal to his shot.

Kasey McAteer dribbled along the edge of the Preston box before seeing a tame shot saved but he should have broken the deadlock on the half-hour.

Abdul Fatawu crossed first-time from the right and the goal gaped for McAteer but he somehow sent his back-post header wide.

Vardy is unfailingly reliable, however, and he cranked up the atmosphere in the away end even further with his 37th-minute goal.

The striker was in the right place at the right time to double the lead shortly after half-time

It was far from the veteran's cleanest connection - more of a scuff than anything - but that did the trick to beat Woodman after Akgun had cut the ball back.

Vardy did his usual trick of celebrating directly in front of the opposition fans and why would you call time on playing if you still get such a thrill out of it?

It got even better for him seven minutes after the restart with potentially the easiest goal he'll ever score.

Wout Faes made it, rampaging forward into Preston's box, skipping past three tackles before firing against the base of the post.

The Leicester supporters were in fine voice throughout as they celebrated their success

The ball rebounded behind Woodman and Vardy was completely alone to smash into an empty net from point-blank range for his 18th goal of the Championship season.

This time, he was happy to fill his nostrils with the cordite from the blue smoke flares set off behind the goal. 'Sign him up,' they chanted.

Vardy might have completed his hat-trick when played clear but Woodman denied him in the one-on-one.

But the third goal duly arrived courtesy of McAteer's free header from Fatawu's cross from the right side.

Vardy was taken off with 15 minutes remaining, not long after Fatawu rattled a post, earning another standing ovation and round of songs.

From there, it was simply a question of how many more Leicester could score. Harry Winks tried to pick out the bottom corner, only for Woodman to save.

Uncork the champagne...

Jamie VardyPremier League