Leicester City 1 Leeds United 1: Long wait for away triumph drags on for Leeds

Michael Keane headed a stoppage-time equaliser to snatch a point for Leicester and deal Leeds United’s Championship play-off hopes a cruel blow.
Sam Byram celebrates his opening goal. (Picture: Bruce Rollinson).Sam Byram celebrates his opening goal. (Picture: Bruce Rollinson).
Sam Byram celebrates his opening goal. (Picture: Bruce Rollinson).

Foxes defender Keane headed home Martyn Waghorn’s 93rd-minute corner at the far post when it seemed Leeds had clinched their third win in four matches.

Sam Byram’s third goal of the season put Leeds on course for their first away win of the year in the league, but just as it appeared the visitors’ play-off challenge had been given added momentum, Keane’s last-gasp effort rescued Leicester a point.

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Leeds, who had not won on their travels in the league since victory at Huddersfield on December 1, were grateful to goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, who saved brilliantly from Anthony Knockaert and Harry Kane in the first half.

But Neil Warnock’s side carved out as many chances as Leicester, for whom Kasper Schmeichel was also in fine form against his former club and whose own promotion hopes had suffered a setback following Saturday’s defeat at Ipswich.

The Foxes made just one change with striker David Nugent back following a neck injury, while Leeds boss Neil Warnock named the same starting line-up for the fourth successive match.

Leicester midfielder Knockaert fired the game’s first chance over the crossbar from inside the penalty area after 37 seconds and home striker Chris Wood lifted his shot over from even closer nine minutes later.

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Leeds responded and almost opened the scoring when they launched their first attack, left-back Stephen Warnock crossing for right-back Byram, whose goalbound header was parried by Schmeichel at full stretch.

Leeds midfielder David Norris and Wood traded long-range shots that were held by Schmeichel and visiting goalkeeper Kenny respectively before Kane, on loan from Tottenham, forced the latter into a fine save with a raking 25-yard effort.

Teenager Kane, making his third appearance since arriving at the end of last month, was prominent for the home side.

He lashed another 25-yard shot wide and Kenny pulled off another smart save to turn away Wood’s curling effort 10 minutes before the break.

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Leeds had soaked up considerable pressure, but broke away to threaten Schmeichel’s goal again when Byram’s clever cut-back in the area was drilled wide, before another superb Kenny save kept out Knockaert’s free-kick after former foxes defender Lee Peltier had fouled Wood.

But it was Leeds who broke the deadlock seven minutes into the second half.

Ross McCormack swung over a corner from the left and when the ball broke loose six yards from goal, Byram tucked it home into the bottom corner.

Leicester were then dealt another blow when defender Paul Konchesky was forced off injured and replaced by Lloyd Dyer and Schmeichel was forced to be at his alert best soon after when saving McCormack’s bullet shot from 25 yards with his feet.

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Foxes boss Pearson sent on winger Ben Marshall for Knockaert on the hour-mark, but both sides found goalscoring chances hard to come by in the final quarter.

Wood’s driven effort in the box rebounded back off team-mate Nugent in the 79th minute and Kane was off target from the edge of the area, but deep in time added on Keane rose highest at the far post to power home Waghorn’s corner.

Leicester City: Schmeichel, De Laet, Keane, Morgan, Konchesky (Dyer 46), Drinkwater, King, Knockaert (Marshall 60), Nugent (Waghorn 81), Kane, Wood. Unused substitutes: Logan, Whitbread, Gallagher, Wellens.

Leeds United: Kenny,Byram,Peltier,Lees,Warnock,Green,Tonge,Norris, Varney,Morison,McCormack (Pearce 90).Unused substitutes: Ashdown, White, Brown, Diouf, Habibou, Hall.

Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire).

yp.sport@ypn,.co.uk