Danny Simpson: 'Leicester City can cope without suspended Jamie Vardy'

Danny Simpson has insisted that Premier League leaders Leicester City will be able to cope without their suspended top scorer Jamie Vardy.

Vardy netted his 22nd league goal of the season to open the scoring against West Ham United on Sunday but was then sent off for two bookable offences.

His reaction to the second yellow shown by Jonathan Moss saw him charged with improper conduct by the Football Association and he could face a further one-match ban, which would rule him out of half of Leicester's remaining games.

Simpson is confident that the Foxes can cope without their star forward, whatever the punishment handed down.

"Vardy has been one of the best players in the league, but Leo (Ulloa, who scored the stoppage-time equaliser against West Ham) came on and got a point for us - that was a lot of pressure for anyone," PA quotes Simpson as saying.

"Other players have scored in the team and before last week Vards hadn't scored for five or six games, so we'll deal with it.

"We've got other players who can come in. Just look at the game - Jeff [Schlupp] came on and won us a penalty and Leo came on and scored."

With four games of the season to go, Leicester are five points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, who thumped Stoke City 4-0 last night to cut the gap.