Leicester City guaranteed their Premier League survival with a deserved home victory over struggling Watford. The 2015-16 champions took the lead when Wilfred Ndidi blasted in from 10 yards out after the Hornets had failed to clear Danny Drinkwater's dinked cross following a short corner. The Foxes twice hit the woodwork before Riyad Mahrez doubled the lead as he pounced on a mistake from Adrian Mariappa to shoot low past Heurelho Gomes. Marc Albrighton added a third goal in injury time when he collected Jamie Vardy's pass and shot into the net. Watford, who suffered their third successive defeat, dropped to 15th in the Premier League, six points above the relegation zone with three games remaining. The three points for Leicester finally ended any lingering doubts they would drop into the Championship only 12 months after securing their first ever Premier League title.

Indeed, the tight nature of the division takes the Foxes up to ninth, as they aim for only their second top-10 finish in English football's top flight in 17 seasons. It has been a disappointing defence of their title, but to have secured their survival with three games remaining can be seen as a success, considering the position they were in when Craig Shakespeare replaced the sacked Claudio Ranieri in February, with the club only one point above the relegation zone. Indeed, they have won seven and drawn one of the 10 Premier League games that Shakespeare has been in charge of, and they capitalised on some poor Watford defending in their latest win.

A cross from the unmarked Danny Drinkwater set up the first goal as Watford failed to pay attention from a short corner, although the Hornets' Etienne Capoue had a chance to clear the danger before Ndidi smashed home. The second goal saw Mahrez punish Mariappa's mistake to score from a tight angle before Albrighton sealed the win ending a fine counter-attack as his shot, following Vardy's pass, went in off the post. Watford have now failed to score in three matches and, mathematically at least, they could still go down. For the Hornets to be relegated, they have to lose all three of their matches, Hull have to win twice convincingly, Swansea need to win both of their games and Crystal Palace need to pick up two points.

Watford, who end their season with games against Everton, Chelsea and Manchester City, had chances against Leicester but Foxes goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel did well to deny Stefano Okaka and two efforts from Tom Cleverley. However, Leicester also had further opportunities and twice hit the woodwork - Mariappa inadvertently shooting against his own post and Mahrez seeing a deflected effort bounce off the top of the crossbar. Watford finished 13th in the Premier League last season, a position that was not good enough for Quique Sanchez Flores to keep his job, and, given his side's poor run, boss Walter Mazzarri will be concerned about his own future at the club.