JibrinLeicester City squandered an opportunity to bring their lengthy winless streak to an end and then weathered a furious late barrage to secure what may prove to be a precious point at Ipswich.
The Foxes appeared destined to claim their first Championship triumph in 10 matches, taking the lead through Patson Daka’s crisp volley, but they conceded to Tractor Boys substitute Sindre Walle Egeli with just 15 minutes remaining on the clock.
Ipswich pressed relentlessly for a late winner and carved out several gilt-edged chances to find it, yet City dug deep and held firm. While the search for a victory, and indeed for a clean sheet, continues, this solitary point could prove vital in their desperate fight to preserve their Championship status.
It was insufficient to haul them out of the relegation zone though, with West Brom’s late equaliser at Sheffield United ensuring City remain one point adrift of safety.
Despite league standings and recent form heavily favouring an Ipswich victory, it was the visitors who made the brighter start.
They pressed the hosts aggressively, forcing errors and making life distinctly uncomfortable. One such mistake enabled Harry Winks to let fly from 20 yards, forcing Christian Walton into a parried save.
Ipswich eventually found their rhythm though and began to dominate possession. City’s defensive organisation restricted clear-cut opportunities from open play, but they enjoyed a significant let-off from a corner just past the half-hour mark.
The ball was delivered deep to an unmarked Dara O’Shea, Ipswich’s skipper, and even from a tight angle, he ought to have scored, but he nodded against the upright and wide.
Yet it was from their own dead-ball situation that City forged ahead. Luke Thomas delivered a sumptuous free-kick from the left flank and Daka evaded Davis’s attention at the far post to meet the ball on the volley 15 yards out, guiding it past Walton with his weaker left foot for his third Championship goal of the campaign.
The strike arrived five minutes before the interval and yet there remained sufficient time for a double warning, Anis Mehmeti drawing a save from Jakub Stolarczyk before Darnell Furlong headed off target.
Ipswich began the second period in similarly dominant fashion, Ivan Azon prodding over after Ben Nelson inexplicably allowed the ball to bounce inside the area.
But for all of Ipswich’s territorial advantage, genuine opportunities remained scarce. And as the half progressed, City appeared to be gradually asserting greater control.
That proved a false dawn. With 15 minutes remaining, Ipswich drew level. A cross arrived and while Thomas and Caleb Okoli both made vital interventions to keep the ball out, City could not prevent the Tractor Boys scoring at the third attempt, Walle Egeli squeezing a shot past Stolarczyk at his near post.
It was one-way traffic from that moment, and Ipswich fashioned several excellent chances to snatch all three points. A frantic goalmouth scramble from a corner saw City throw enough bodies in the way to survive, and then Ben Nelson blocked substitute Chuba Akpom’s injury-time strike.
Just before the final whistle, substitute Hamza Choudhury appeared to bundle over Cedric Kipre inside the area, but the referee waved away appeals. City clung on for a point. Here is how we rated the players.
Jakub Stolarczyk: It was a weak attempt to save with his feet at his near post for the equaliser, though his view may have been obstructed. Otherwise, he was solid, making other saves appear routine and commanding his area well at corners. His distribution was erratic. 6
Ricardo Pereira: Produced one excellent last-ditch tackle and several other timely interventions. They didn’t always look entirely convincing, but he got the job done. He also won numerous near-post headers from corners. 6
Caleb Okoli: Much like Ricardo, his defending was unconventional at times, the Italian even executing one tackle with his back turned, and there were still a few anxious moments. However, he made several crucial blocks and clearances inside the box. 6
Ben Nelson: Looked sluggish in 50-50 situations early on and was fortunate to escape punishment after inexplicably allowing a cross to bounce inside the area during the second half, but in the closing stages he stood tall to keep Ipswich at bay, including one vital block. 6
Luke Thomas: Competed fiercely in 50-50 duels and while he didn’t always shut down Burns effectively, he performed admirably in his defensive duties. He also whipped in a wicked free-kick to set up Daka’s goal and won plenty of back-post headers. He was guilty of squandering one promising second-half opportunity though. Still, this was his best display in some time. 7
Harry Winks: City’s standout performer. He wasn’t flawless, and did surrender possession unnecessarily at times, but he dictated the tempo during City’s brightest spells, wresting back control of the game from Ipswich on occasions, and embarking on mazy runs through the heart of the pitch. 8
Oliver Skipp: Enjoyed a strong first half, with one surging run forward (though his pass let him down) and several crisp one-touch passes. However, he faded badly after the interval. 6
Abdul Fatawu: Tasked with a defensive brief to keep Davis quiet. He didn’t excel in that regard, but perhaps did just enough. In possession, he tried too hard to execute ambitious passes. There were a couple of promising ball carries though. 5
Bobby De Cordova-Reid: Showed some neat touches in tight spaces when the ball did reach him, but that was far too infrequent, the Jamaican anonymous for large stretches. He also picked up a needless yellow card. 5
Stephy Mavididi: Showed early promise when he dribbled through the centre but that was not built upon, partly because the ball rarely reached him, but also because he failed to offer Thomas an outlet often enough. 5
Patson Daka: The technique for his volley was exceptional and that moment of quality provided City with the platform to claim a point. He contributed little else though. 6
Jibrin
