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Leicester City 2-2 Leeds United

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Leeds had to settle for a point after letting a two goal lead slip at Leicester in the final twenty minutes.

Simon Grayson was boosted by the return to the first team of defender Andy O`Brien.

The on loan defender had missed the last two games due to a thigh injury and returned to parent club Bolton earlier in the week for treatment.

O`Brien replaced Alex Bruce in defence who dropped to the bench.

The first thing of note was Luciano Becchio earning a booking within two minutes of the start after punching the ball in frustration.

Leicester started on the front foot, Steve Howard having the home sides` first chance when he shot wide of the target.

Leeds took the lead with their first meaningful chance on twenty minutes when the inform Max Gradel headed in following a Kilkenny cross.

Gradel`s goal was his seventh in ten games for the club.

The goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of the home side.

Cunningham finally got the home side interested again after a marauding run he just failed to find Howard in the box with Leeds keeper Schmeichel getting a touch to divert it away from the striker.

Leicester`s frustrations were plain to see close to half time when Howard`s long-range effort cleared the bar by a long way.

The two sides` mustered just one effort on target between them in the first half and it was all-important as Max Gradel`s goal sent Leeds in at half time one up.

Yuki Abe had the first chance of the second half for Leicester, his shot going straight at Schmeichel.

Leicester had come out in the second half looking strong, after some poor defending by Leeds; Schmeichel had to be on his toes to deny Andy King.

Leeds went two up when Robert Snodgrass scored a tremendous goal. The ball came back to him following his corner for Leeds and he bent the ball in from the tightest of angles.

Max Gradel had a decent chance to make it three soon afterwards but his shot found the side netting.

Leeds were now picking their way through the Leicester defence and Becchio saw his shot saved by Kirkland.

Leicester made a double substitution with just under half hour remaining, Lloyd Dyer and Roman Bednar replacing Steve Howard and Yuki Abe.
Leicester got a lifeline when Schmeichel brought down Vassell to give the home side a penalty.

The referee incensed the home players and fans when he only produced a yellow card for Schmeichel when he was the last man.

Gallagher stepped up to blast the ball past Schmeichel with eighteen minutes remaining.

The home side were on level terms within five minutes when Andy King beat Kasper Schmeichel from long range.

Grayson made a double substation late on as strikers Billy Paynter and Ross McCormack replaced Luciano Becchio and John Howson.

Leeds almost snatched a late winner when Collins got on the end of a corner from Snodgrass but Kirkland managed to keep the effort out and force another corner.

Billy Paynter then saw his effort cleared off the line as Leeds finished strongly.

At the other end, Leicester had claims for a penalty waved away when Bednar went down.

The referee added four minutes of added time as both sides searched for a winner.

Leeds had another chance when again, Collins got his head to a Snodgrass corner but the ball went over the bar.

The referee blew his whistle for full time soon afterwards to end an entertaining game.



Teams

Leicester
Kirkland, Davies, Hobbs, King, Naughton, Wellens, Gallagher, Howard (Bednar 65), Abe, (Dyer 65), Cunningham, Vassell

Subs not used
Weale, Morrison, Oakley, Waghorn, Moussa,

Leeds
Schmeichel, Connolly, Collins, O`Brien, McCartney, Howson (Paynter 85), Johnson, Kilkenny (Faye 90), Snodgrass, Gradel, Becchio (McCormack 85)

Subs not used
Higgs, Bruce, Bromby, Sam,



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