Jamie Vardy and Harvey Barnes help Leicester sweep aside relegated Watford

Jamie Vardy and Harvey Barnes each scored twice as Roy Hodgson’s final home match in charge of relegated Watford ended in an embarrassing defeat to Leicester.

João Pedro’s deflected effort gave the hosts an early lead in front of the incoming head coach Rob Edwards. But familiar defensive issues contributed to their downfall as James Maddison’s leveller and two goals each from Vardy and Barnes condemned them to a 26th Premier League loss of a miserable campaign.

Leicester’s victory was relatively straightforward after their ongoing set-piece frailties were exposed early on and keeps them on course for a fifth-successive top-half finish. Meanwhile, Watford’s latest blow equals the overall top-flight record of 15 home defeats in a season and leaves Edwards in little doubt about the major summer overhaul required.

Hodgson, who turns 75 in August, will depart Hertfordshire having failed to win on home soil and with just next weekend’s trip to Chelsea to improve a paltry return of nine points from 51 available since his January appointment. Edwards, who led Forest Green to the League Two title this term, received a ripple of applause as he was unveiled to a sparsely-populated stadium ahead of kick-off.

How many of the current squad will be at his disposal in the Championship next season remains to be seen but he had reason for early encouragement as the injury-hit hosts raced ahead. Leicester made a mess of repelling a corner from Ken Sema and, following a couple of ricochets, Pedro fired home via a substantial touch from Timothy Castagne.

Brendan Rodgers’ team have now conceded a league-high 26 times from set-pieces this term. They almost fell further behind following another Sema corner but Adam Masina’s instinctive prod