Palace Hold Foxes To 2-2 Draw

Craig Shakespeare made two changes to his side for the fixture, bringing in Andy King and Leonardo Ulloa, but the Foxes showed no signs of fatigue from their narrow 1-0 UEFA Champions League defeat to Atlético Madrid in midweek. 

The Premier League champions burst out of the blocks in the capital and were ahead after just six minutes. Christian Fuchs sent a long throw into the box and Robert Huth was there to nod in to break the deadlock. 

Efforts followed from Wilfred Zaha and Chrsitian Benteke at the other end, with the latter denied brilliantly by a fine save from Kasper Schmeichel at the front post, but Huth’s early goal proved enough for Leicester to head into the break in front. 

City’s second goal came from a lightning counter attack, as a cleared corner fell to Riyad Mahrez on the half-way line. The Algerian turned and slipped in Jamie Vardy, who cut back onto his left foot to get past former Fox Jeffrey Schlupp before curling the ball into the far corner. 

But Palace replied just two minutes later to halve the deficit through Yohan Cabaye, who helped his side mount a comeback. The Frenchman found space 10 yards from goal and swept the ball home past Schmeichel. 

Momentum turned in Palace’s favour and they capitalised on that with 20 minutes to play. Benteke climbed above Yohan Benalouane to head in Andros Townsend’s cross and make it all-square. 

A chance to win the game fell to substitute Danny Drinkwater in injury time, but his left-footed drive from inside the box flew just inches wide of Wayne Hennessey’s upright.  

Major moment  

Up until Yohan Cabaye’s strike on 54 minutes, the Foxes looked good value for their two-goal lead, which came courtesy of a Robert Huth header and Jamie Vardy’s 11th Premier League goal of the campaign. 

But the effort from Cabaye gave Sam Allardyce’s men the impetus and it was Christian Benteke who would score the decisive goal in an entertaining fixture at Selhurst Park – his third strike in his last four games salvaged a Premier League point for the Eagles. 

Who impressed? 

After a solid performance against Atlético Madrid on Wednesday evening, centre back Robert Huth put in another fine display for the Foxes, this time against Crystal Palace. 

The German defender, who will sit out Tuesday’s return leg against Atlético due to suspension, faced a huge challenge in defending against target man Christian Benteke, but won countless headers against the Belgian international hitman. 

Huth also put in a vital challenge late on to prevent Wilfried Zaha from turning in a deflected Andros Townsend cross, ensuring City would leave London with another point on the board. 

Where do we stand? 

The Foxes sit a huge nine points clear of the bottom three with just six Premier League games to play following defeats for both Hull City and Swansea City. 

While Leicester drop one place to 12th after Stoke City recorded a win, they have a game in hand on Mark Hughes’ men. 

Coming up...

City will play their third fixture in just seven days on Tuesday, when they entertain Atlético Madrid on Filbert Way in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final tie. 

The Foxes trail 1-0 from the first leg, but with a sold out Leicester City Stadium behind them, it is set to be a historic night for the Club.