Leicester City 1-1 Burnley: Clarets Comeback Keeps Them Top
Championship leaders Burnley weathered an early storm away at Leicester, taking a hard-earned point back to Turf Moor as the Premier League promotion race tightened up. Danny Ings cancelled out David Nugent's first half penalty. Leicester made a dominant start with French winger Anthony Knockaert testing Clarets keeper Tom Heaton after winning a corner. Opposition defenders had to block shots at will as the hosts had five attempts in the opening seven minutes. Pearson's Foxes made this early pressure pay when Jamie Vardy won a soft penalty before the quarter hour. The striker went down in between Ben Mee and Jason Shackell in the Burnley box and referee Andy D'Urso pointed to the spot. Up stepped Nugent and converted his tenth league goal of the season, sending Heaton the wrong way. The Clarets later hit the woodwork through Ings when he glanced a Kieran Trippier cross against the post. Vardy dragged wide five minutes before half time as Leicester spurned a great chance to double their lead following good work from Knockaert and Nugent. Liam Moore also blazed over when a Foxes free kick found its way to the back post. Ings shot wide on the turn for Burnley in first half stoppage time, but went one better 90 seconds after the break when he equalized. Danny Drinkwater failed to cut out another Trippier cross and Kasper Schmeichel was beaten from close range. Ings made it a dozen for the season. Leicester were indebted to their keeper moments later when a terrible back-pass set Sam Vokes away. Schmeichel stood strong, however, and parried the Wales frontman's effort. Nugent then hooked wide for the hosts when Knockaert and Lloyd Dyer overloaded the left channel. Both sides went in search of a winner and Foxes forward Vardy ghosted in on another Dyer delivery, but headed wide. Sub Jeff Schlupp also fired off target late on and Knockaert worked Heaton at the death as the two teams played out a draw. A point at home might not look like the best result for Leicester and Pearson at first glance having led, but it stopped the rot after successive defeats. Burnley may slip to second if QPR can beat Blackpool later on Saturday.