Evans: Not What We Wanted, But A Long Way To Go
- Leicester City were held to a 0-0 draw by Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday evening
- Defender Jonny Evans admits the Foxes were frustrated not to seal all three points
- The Northern Ireland international, however, praised Kasper Schmeichel's penalty save
- The performances of James Justin since the league's restart have also impressed Evans
In the Club's second behind-closed-doors fixture - and first at King Power Stadium - since the Premier League season's resumption, neither City nor Brighton threatened with regularity.
However, Evans' team-mate, Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, made an essential penalty save to thwart Neal Maupay and deny the Seagulls an early opener on Filbert Way.
The Foxes are third in the Premier League with a goal difference of +30 having won 16 matches so far, leaving them nine points clear of fifth-placed Manchester United.
Evans, though, told LCFC TV that City were frustrated not to add a further two points to their tally: "It's frustrating. We know we didn't create enough to win the game.
"They obviously have a penalty in the first half, which Kasper's done unbelievable [with]. His penalty-saving record's incredible and he's got us out of trouble, really.
"At the start, I think we controlled the game in spells. We felt comfortable, especially in the second half. We felt like we played most of the game in their half, we just couldn't find the final pass.
"We've taken two points from the first two games. It's not what we what we would've wanted, but it's points on the board.
"We try not to get too frustrated. We've got a long way to go. Seven games now left in the league. A big cup game now at the weekend [too] which we're all looking forward to."
An 11th clean sheet of the league season provided another reminder of Leicester's defensive solidity, but the Northern Ireland centre-back admits he would rather have three points.
"To be honest, clean sheets are nice when you win games and I'd much rather have three points to be honest with you," Evans added.
"But if you look from when the Premier League started back up, it's been difficult for teams to find out that match sharpness, probably, in the final third of games.
"It's probably the first time I've experienced a home match like that and you do miss your support, without a doubt. Especially in the last 10 minutes when you're pushing.
"They give you that little boost and that's up to us to try and manage that and try to find that inspiration and put it into the game.
"I think most teams will find that, playing on your home patch, your home fans carry you over the line a little bit.
"It's a big quality. He's seems to have a real ability to read penalty-takers. Even for his country, he had a few at the last World Cup.
"He saved one this season against Man City and a couple in the shootouts, so it's a big strength and every time you the other team gets a penalty, you kind of fancy him although we don't want to be conceding pens."
The 32-year-old former Manchester United defender starred alongside England Under-21s international James Justin for the second successive game on Tuesday.
While Justin conceded the penalty which led to Schmeichel's save, Evans believes the talented full-back is already proving his worth with a series of assured all-round performances.
"He's been fantastic, JJ," he continued. Since he's come in, he's had to be patient. But he's a real professional, for someone so young, and you can see the professionalism that he's got.
"It's a fantastic attitude, [he's] really good player. I think we've all been really, really impressed with.
"In the two games that he came in, he played at West Ham away and then Aston Villa at home just before everything broke up, and he was fantastic in both of those games. He's been fantastic in the last two games as well."
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