Performance Levels Please Ranieri

- The Foxes are now three points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League table 

- Salomon Rondon gave the visitors a lead before Danny Drinkwater and Andy King put City in front 

- Craig Gardner’s free kick levelled early in the second half but Ranieri felt the Foxes had the chances to win the game 

Claudio Ranieri was full of praise for the efforts of his Leicester City side after they again gave their all in a 2-2 Barclays Premier League draw with West Bromwich Albion at King Power Stadium.

Throughout the 90 minutes, the Foxes created plenty of chances against a strong Baggies side, but were unable to find a winning goal despite a number of opportunities late in the game. 

Salomon Rondon had give the visitors a lead against the run of play but strikes from the midfield duo of Danny Drinkwater and Andy King had the Foxes deservedly ahead at the break. 

Jamie Vardy and Shinji Okazaki both rattled the crossbar with headers in the match, but Craig Gardner’s stunning free kick early in the second half eventually earned the visitors a point. 

The Foxes now sit three points clear at the top of the table ahead of Tottenham’s fixture on Wednesday, and the manager was more than satisfied with the night’s work. 

“I watched a fantastic performance,” Ranieri told Foxes Player HD. “I’m happier tonight than the match against Norwich. We won against Norwich but the performance was the same tonight. 

“We deserved to win and we created a lot of chances. Twice we hit the crossbar. It’s unbelievable, but it’s okay – we are alive and we continue to fight. 

“Yes I wanted to find a solution to help my players. We created chances on the right and on the left. Lots of crosses and good situations but the ball didn’t want to go in. It’s okay, we are ready to fight again against Watford.” 

King and Drinkwater formed a formidable partnership in the centre of the pitch with each scoring a goal, but it came as no surprise to Ranieri, who was impressed by the pair as early as the opening day of the season. 

“I was sure,” he said. “I was really confident. If you remember, at the beginning of the season I started with those two as central midfielders because they’d played together for a long time. 

“They play good football, I love their football but everybody made a good performance and I say well done to the players. 

“I’m very pleased because we didn’t panic [after going behind]. We were very calm, we started to build, scored a goal and went 2-1 up. 

“But we knew they wanted to play on the counter attack and they are very strong on the counter and at set plays. They made fantastic goals so well done to them but also well done to my players.”