By Sam Tonks
The points were shared at London Stadium, as Leicester City twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with West Ham United.
Michail Antonio headed the home side ahead in the first half, Jamie Vardy then equalised in the second half. Lucas Perez put West Ham in front again after Pedro Obiang had hit the post, yet Harvey Barnes secured a point for the visitors in added time.
It was a perfect, sunny afternoon at London Stadium with a sea of Claret and Blue in the stands to mark, ‘Claret and Blue day’.
Both sides were very expansive in possession, patiently probing to open up the other, as was the case when Manuel Pellegrini and Brendan Rodgers faced off at Manchester City and Liverpool respectively.
Marko Arnautovic was back in the starting side after illness forced him to miss last weekend’s trip to Old Trafford, whilst Jack Wilshere was amongst the substitutes following a seven-month spell on the sidelines.
The visitors English attacking duo created the first sight of goal. Vardy knocking the ball down for James Maddison, who turned onto his left foot cleverly, and tested the hands of Lukasz Fabianski.
West Ham were bright but unable to break open the Leicester rear-guard. Felipe Anderson and Robert Snodgrass floated dangerous crosses in, but to no avail. Arnautovic provided the best cross, flashing it across from the right, but Antonio was unable to outmuscle Jonny Evans to score.
It was to be the winger-come-centre forward who broke the deadlock on 38 minutes. Captain Mark Noble was in the unusual position of left winger, but delivered a perfect cross for Antonio to leap and power a header into the far corner.
Maddison was a lingering threat throughout, Declan Rice arrived just on time to intercept the ball off his right foot to preserve a half-time lead for the hosts.
Leicester started the second-half with more purpose, Mark Albrighton providing two dangerous deliveries that were defended well by Angelo Ogbonna and then Fabien Balbuena.
Ricardo Perreira then jinked his way down the right wing and forced Balbuena to intervene again, City were testing the Hammers backline but not Fabianski.
In the 67th minute, Leicester beat the defence and Fabianski. Ben Chilwell with a good cross from the left flank and Vardy stole a march on Balbuena to steer the ball in at the near post, his 16th of the season.
The Hammers needed to step it up a gear and nearly replied straight away, but Arnautovic couldn’t replicate Vardy’s near post finish, the game was opening up.
At one end, Artur Masuaku latched onto Anderson’s pass and whipped the ball across, just evading Antonio’s head. Moments later, Maddison got onto Tielemans’ pass and cut in onto his right foot before shooting just wide.
The hosts had responded well and edged in front again on the 81st minute. Pellegrini’s subs did the trick, Obiang’s right foot shot curled onto the post, Perez was on his toes to tuck the rebound into the unguarded net.
City were chasing a leveller once more, Kelechi Iheanacho was brought on and but for brilliant last-ditch defending from Ogbonna would’ve made an instant impact.
However, a Leicester sub did make a telling impact in stoppage time, Barnes. Some one-touch football opened up West Ham as Youri Tielemans slotted him in brilliantly, Barnes was composed and scored.
West Ham are now six points off seventh, Watford moving up after their win. Southampton are next and last to London Stadium this campaign, on the 4th May.
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