Leicester keep City’s attack at bay in enthralling draw

Sean Taylor 06:41 30/12/2015
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  • Up for the challenge: Nicolas Otamendi slides in to try and tackle Jamie Vardy.

    Leicester finished 2015 level on points with Arsenal at the top of the Premier League after a goalless draw with Manchester City at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday night.

    The stalemate leaves Leicester second in the table behind the Gunners on goal difference, completing an amazing turnaround from 12 months ago when the Foxes were bottom of the standings.

    After defeat at Anfield on Boxing Day, some questioned the title credentials of Claudio Ranieri’s team but they silenced their critics with another superb performance as they more than held their own against the 2013-14 champions.

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    City stay third and without an away win in the league in six outings since a 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace on September 12, however they did manage a first clean sheet since November 8.

    Leicester had marshalled the threat of Raheem Sterling well, until the 18th minute. It was then that Sterling caught Bacary Sagna’s ball over the top into space and teed-up Kevin De Bruyne, whose first-time shot was parried away by Kasper Schmeichel.

    It signalled the start of an assertive spell from City who got in down the right again before the half-hour mark following good link up play between Sagna and De Bruyne.

    Sterling took a pass on his chest and, losing his balance, hit a volley but Schmeichel got a hand on the ball. 

    Leicester survived the spell of pressure unscathed and finished the first half strongly. Christian Fuchs turned away from De Bruyne and delivered a beautiful cross which just eluded Jamie Vardy.

    Four minutes before half-time Vardy was presented with a glorious chance to score. Fernandinho dallied and lost possession 30 yards out, allowing Danny Drinkwater to put Vardy clear on goal but the striker uncharacteristically blazed his shot over the crossbar.

    There was more ebb and flow about the second half as chances went begging at both ends.

    Sergio Aguero flicked a near-post effort just wide straight after the restart before N’Golo Kante soon had Joe Hart worried with a dipping 25-yard shot.

    Marc Albrighton scuffed his shot wide from a good position inside the penalty area while back at the other end Schmeichel had to push away a Nicolas Otamendi header.

    A brilliant pass from Drinkwater gave Vardy another sight of goal but his shot was straight at Hart, who then did well to repel a powerfully-struck Fuchs free-kick. 

    Both sides had spells of late pressure but neither could make the breakthrough and a draw was a fair result.

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