Former Leicester City and England frontman Vardy rolled back the years with two classic striker's goals either side of half-time as promoted Cremonese, in 11th on 17 points, inflicted a first home defeat of the season on their high-flying opponents. Bologna would have gone a point behind the division's leading pair AC Milan and Napoli with a win but it was 38-year-old Vardy who took the glory at a wet Stadio Renato Dall'Ara.

"I think we were just missing a bit of rain, this is a typical midweek in the UK," joked Vardy after Cremonese ended a three-match losing streak. "The most important thing was getting the three points and keeping that progress going, it's another step in the right direction.

"It's all about commitment and wanting what's best for the club. Everyone's on that same page and everyone's pushing forward to make sure that come the end of the season it will have been a successful year." Cremonese were already leading through Martin Payero's 31st minute effort when Vardy struck five minutes later with a near identical goal.

Vardy was sent clean through by Federico Bonazzoli and he coolly rolled his finish through Federico Ravaglia's legs. Bologna thought they were back in the game when Riccardo Orsolini confidently scored a penalty deep in stoppage time at the end of the first half.

But Vardy pounced four minutes after half-time, nipping ahead of Ravaglia to meet Tomasso Barbieri's first-time pass and take his goal tally for Cremonese to four in nine matches. After the match coach Davide Nicola said it was a "privilege" having Vardy in his team.

"Great players are easy to handle, they know what they're supposed to do and they know how to do it," said Nicola. "They set themselves apart for their qualities as players but also for their spirit and how they behave.

"That's how he is, he's comfortable with who he is, good humoured... he came here with the mentality of making himself available for the team." Vardy joined Cremonese in September on a one-year deal with an option for another season should they manage to stay in the top flight.

He has been open about his intention to have a new experience in a football culture he admires with Cremonese, who are backed by local billionaire steel magnate Giovanni Arvedi.

M. Payero

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