Leicester City picked up a seventh win in ten games under Craig Shakespeare with an emphatic display against Watford.
Goals from Wilfred Ndidi, Riyad Mahrez and Marc Albrighton meant any lingering relegation concerns, if anyone still seriously thought there was a chance of relegation, were completely dismissed and pushed City into the top ten of the table.
It is exactly a year on from the biggest celebration in the club's history and despite manager Craig Shakespeare's declaration that it was time to move on, there was a sense around the stadium that the Blue Army are not quite ready to move on after last season's title triumph.
A video montage reminder of the day City beat Everton and lifted the cup drew plenty of warm nostalgia from the home fans and there was a familiar feel about the City side that lined up against Watford.
However, it was one of the new boys who hadn't savoured that incredible moment when Wes Morgan, who was again absent with a hamstring injury, lifted the Premier League trophy who made the difference between two equally matched sides in the first half.
The Hornets began the day level on points with City and it was a case of stalemate in the first period until Ndidi, a £15 million January signing, latched onto a loose ball from a well-worked corner to fire City in front.
Against an ominously large Watford side, City had to engage their brains to find a breakthrough. Corners, free kicks and Christian Fuchs' long throws were gobbled up by the visitor's giant rearguard, so City had begun to work openings by using some fox cunning.
Riyad Mahrez's clever free kick had played Vardy in on 18 minutes but instead of shooting, the City striker, who had scored nine goals in his previous 13 games, put in a low cross which was turned onto his own post by Adrian Mariappa.
The goal came about from equally quick-witted play as from a short corner Marc Albrighton found Drinkwater in acres of space inside the Watford box and his cross was miscontrolled inside the box by Christian Kabasele, and Ndidi lashed home the loose ball.
Marc Albrighton celebrates his goal that put the finishing touches to the win over Watford
Mahrez had also had a shot deflected onto the crossbar by former City loanee Tom Cleverley, but the hosts hadn't had it all their own way.
Stefano Okaka, preferred in attack to Troy Deeney, had tested Kasper Schmeichel with a stinging volley and the City keeper had to dive at full length to push away a Cleverley strike.
Vardy had a chance to add to City's tally at the start of the second half when he was played in by Shinji Okazaki and he took his shot early, only to be denied by Heurelho Gomes, while Okaka continued to look dangerous with a close-range header which was just over the bar.
However, just before the hour Mahrez delivered. The Algerian may not have had the best of times in recent weeks but he showed what he was capable of and why frustrated young winger Demarai Gray may have to wait a little while longer for his chance with a sublime finish.
Mahrez latched onto a mistake from Mariappa, who failed to deal with a Vardy flick on, and raced into the box before beating Gomes at his near post.
The shackles were now cast off and City went for a third, with Vardy being denied again by Gomes and substitute Islam Slimani blazing wildly over after being teed up by Mahrez. Fuchs was also inches away with a curling free kick.
The Hornets tried desperately to get back into the game and M'Baye Niang warmed the hands of the under-worked Schmeichel with a curling effort and he then tipped a dipping Cleverley effort over the bar.
However, City had complete control of the contest and the third did come in added time when Vardy teed up Albrighton, who capped a superb display with a deserved goal.
Teams
Leicester City (4-4-2): 1 Kasper Schmeichel, 17 Danny Simpson, 06 Robert Huth, 29 Yohan Benalouane, 28 Christian Fuchs, 26 Riyad Mahrez, 4 Danny Drinkwater, 25 Wilfred Ndidi, 11 Marc Albrighton, 20 Shinji Okazaki, 09 Jamie Vardy
Subs: 03 Ben Chilwell, 07 Ahmed Musa, 10 Andy King (for 04 Drinkwater 67 mins), 13 Daniel Amartey, 19 Islam Slimani (for 20 Okazaki 62 mins), 21 Ron-Robert Zieler, 22 Demarai Gray (for 26 Mahrez 78 mins).
Watford (3-5-2)
Subs: 01 Heurelho Gomes; 06 Adrian Mariappa, 05 Sebastian Prodl, 27 Christian Kabasele; 07 Nordin Amrabat, 29 Etienne Capoue, 16 Abdoulaye Douceur, 22 Daryl Janmaat, 08 Tom Cleverley; 33 Stefano Okaka, 21 M'Baye Niang.
Referee: Roger East
Stats
Goals: Ndidi (38), Mahrez (58), Albrighton (90+3)
Half-time: 1-0
Yellow cards: None
Att: 31,628
Possession: 42% (City), 58% (Watford)
Shots on target: 5 (City), 7 (Watford)
Shots in total: 11 (City), 15 (Watford)
Corners: 10 (City), 1 (Watford)
Fouls: 7 (City), 10 (Watford)
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