Contact Form

 

as it happened: Butland howler, Shaqiri goal


What term do you want to search? Search with google


If you have trouble playing the video, try one of the following: (1) disable adblock (2) open the site in google chrome incognito mode (3) try a different browser (4) reload the whole page..

The full games and/or highlights are added to free hosts with their own advertisements, which sometimes may include adult content pop ups. Please understand we are not responsible for this advertising content.


Leicester City are now four Premier League games without a win after they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Stoke.

Xherdan Shaqiri's first-half opener left Claude Puel's side looking likely to suffer defeat, only for Jack Butland's howler to put Leicester back on level terms.

The Stoke and England goalkeeper made amends, though, as he pulled off a stunning save to deny Riyad Mahrez before touching Harry Maguire's follow-up on to the post.

Leicester were left scratching their heads to wonder how they did not snatch a late winner, as Mahrez failed to take advantage of a one-on-one before another effort hit the upright.

We were there to bring you all the build-up, team news, goals, action and reaction from the King Power Stadium this afternoon on our live matchday blog.

To get in touch with us and have your say, head to our Facebook or Twitter.


Get Daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email

Leicester City needed an own goal from goalkeeper Jack Butland to secure a point against relegation battlers Stoke.

Xherdan Shaqiri had fired the Potters in front just before half- time as City produced a largely below par display.

But Butland turned Marc Albrighton’s cross into his own net in the second half and City hit the woodwork twice as they pushed for the winner.

The first half demonstrated why football isn’t an exact science.

On the face of it, City should have had little to fear on home soil against a side that had gone eight Premier League away games without a victory.

In contrast, although City had picked up just two wins in their previous 10 league games, at the King Power Stadium they had picked up 13 points from their previous seven, with their only defeat during that period coming against Crystal Palace in December.

While Stoke under Paul Lambert were embroiled in a relegation scrap, City had no such worries and the FA Cup has become the focus for many, although manager Claude Puel was keen to stress his side were still in the hunt for a seventh placed finish.

He made just two changes from the side that beat Sheffield United last weekend, with Matty James and Marc Albrighton, who was shown the door at Aston Villa by Lambert, returning to the starting line-up.

That meant captain Wes Morgan maintained his starting spot, while Riyad Mahrez started his first league game since his move to Manchester City fell through.

To emphasis Mahrez’s importance, and City’s reluctance to lose him, City tried to get the mercurial Algerian into the game at every opportunity, but the visitors were pumped up and working tirelessly to deny the hosts the space to play they desired.

James and Mahrez both went close inside the first three minutes but after that City were frustrated by a dogged display from the Potters.

The visitors made it a scrappy, physical game, which suited them much more than Puel’s side, who struggled to create any real chances.

Jamie Vardy was looking to score in his sixth consecutive game, but besides a barrage of crosses, most-notably from Mahrez and Albrighton, he received no service with strike partner Demarai Gray struggling to have any influence on the game.

While Stoke were showing their battling qualities, there wasn’t a lot of quality about their attacking play, except for Shaqiri, who had been picked out by Puel in the build-up as their dangerman, and sure enough just before the break the Switzerland international made the first decisive contribution.

Wilfred Ndidi had ran out of his central midfield position to make himself available but he lost possession to Joe Allen who fed Shaqiri in acres of space 35-yards out. He ran at the unprotected City backline before bending a right-footed shot past Kasper Schmeichel, who got fingertips to the ball but couldn’t keep it out.

City certainly started the second half with more intensity and Mahrez was still the man most likely to unlock a stubborn Stoke defence, but there just wasn’t the zip about City’s overall play.

Mahrez’s display summed up City in many respects. At times he was threatening and produced some exciting moments, but they were mixed in with some sloppy passes at times.

He wasn’t the only one who had moments of sloppiness and Schmeichel almost gifted Shaqiri a second with a pass out of defence to James which put him under pressure and the Stoke play-maker just failed to find the empty net.

As time ticked on it was obvious City needed more attacking quality and Puel brought on Fousseni Diabate and Kelechi Iheanacho, but it was a gift from keeper Butland that got City back into the game.

Albrighton, now playing as a right-back, got to the byline and his drilled cross was too far in front of Vardy, but Butland misjudged it as he braced to catch it and the ball came off his line and in.

But there was an excellent save shortly after to deny Mahrez brilliantly and then Maguire crashed the rebound against the post as City sensed a winner.

The Stoke goal was leading a charmed life and from a Mahrez cross James struck the woodwork with a thumping header. The good fortune of the equaliser was now being cancelled out and City were left frustrated at the end with just a point.

Total comment

Author

fw

0   comments

Cancel Reply