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Leicester City’s Chris Wood nets late equaliser against Everton Leicester City’s Chris Wood nets late equaliser against Everton
(35 minutes later)
Chris Wood’s equaliser ensured Leicester’s return to the Premier League after a decade away began on a positive note, but Everton manager Roberto Martínez will be wondering how this one got away from his team. Chris Wood’s equaliser ensured Leicester’s return to the Premier League after a decade away began on a positive note, but the Everton manager, Roberto Martínez, will be wondering how this one got away from his team.
Having dominated proceedings throughout and deservedly led through goalsfrom Aiden McGeady and Steven Naismith, a lack of urgency in the second half allowed Nigel Pearson’s side back into the game when they had looked dead and buried. After Everton had dominated throughout and deservedly led through goals from Aiden McGeady and Steven Naismith, a lack of urgency in the second half allowed Nigel Pearson’s side back into the game when they had looked dead and buried.
As the Everton manager knows all too well, two points can be absolutely vital when it comes to the crunch in the race to finish in the top four and, even at this early stage, they are already playing catch up.As the Everton manager knows all too well, two points can be absolutely vital when it comes to the crunch in the race to finish in the top four and, even at this early stage, they are already playing catch up.
After the blow of losing Ross Barkley for up to two months with a knee injury earlier in the week, at least Roberto Martínez was able to call on new permanent signings Gareth Barry and £28m striker Romelu Lukaku while other fresh arrivals Muhamed Besic and Christian Atsu had to make do with a place on the bench. Leicester had their own club record signing leading the line in form of Ulloa – albeit for £20m less from Brighton. After the blow of losing Ross Barkley for up to two months with a knee injury earlier in the week, at least Martínez was able to call on new permanent signings Gareth Barry and £28m striker Romelu Lukaku while other fresh arrivals Muhamed Besic and Christian Atsu had to make do with a place on the bench. Leicester had their own club record signing leading the line in form of Leonardo Ulloa – albeit for £20m less from Brighton.
Yet after 10 years away from the top-flight, it was neither of them whose picture adorned the front cover of the matchday programme but Thai owner Vichaj Srivaddhanaprabha. He has stated in the past that he would like to see Leicester compete with the top clubs in the country within five years, although for now it seems he will be content with mere survival, given the length of time it has taken Leicester to escape the Championship. Yet after 10 years away from the top-flight, it was neither of them whose picture adorned the front cover of the matchday programme but Thai owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha. He has stated in the past that he would like to see Leicester compete with the top clubs in the country within five years, although for now it seems he will be content with mere survival, given the length of time it has taken Leicester to escape the Championship.
The early signs looked promising for the hosts, with Mahrez looking particularly dangerous when he cut in on his left foot against an Everton defence that was missing Séamus Coleman. But having matched their opponents, a cruel stroke of luck and a brilliant finish from McGeady combined to give the visitors first blood in the 20th minute. The early signs looked promising for the hosts, with Riyad Mahrez looking particularly dangerous when he cut in on his left foot against an Everton defence that was missing Seamus Coleman. But having matched their opponents, a cruel stroke of luck and a brilliant finish from McGeady combined to give the visitors first blood in the 20th minute.
Following a corner, a tame shot from all of 30 yards from Leighton Baines deflected straight to the unmarked Sylvain Distin. Kasper Schmeichel was out quick to smother his effort, only for McGeady to curl an unstoppable shot into the far corner. After a corner, a tame shot from 30 yards from Leighton Baines deflected straight to the unmarked Sylvain Distin. Kasper Schmeichel was out quick to smother his effort, only for McGeady to curl an unstoppable shot into the far corner.
To their credit, Leicester did not let their heads drop and were level within two minutes. Ulloa rose highest to meet a corner from Anthony Knockaert and was pleasantly surprised to see the ball fall into his path for a simple finish.To their credit, Leicester did not let their heads drop and were level within two minutes. Ulloa rose highest to meet a corner from Anthony Knockaert and was pleasantly surprised to see the ball fall into his path for a simple finish.
Anchored by Barry and James McCarthy in midfield, it was Everton who made most of the running. McGeady should have done better when presented with a golden chance to score his second, while Naismith saw his shot from distance miss by a foot. Anchored by Barry and James McCarthy in midfield, Everton made most of the running. McGeady should have done better when presented with a golden chance to score his second, while Naismith’s shot from distance missed by a foot.
But having served warning of his goal threat, the diminutive Scot wasn’t to be denied. On the stroke of half-time, John Stones’ cross found Pienaar at the back post and the South African did well to set up Naismith to restore Everton’s lead. But having served warning of his goal threat, the diminutive Scot was not to be denied. On the stroke of half-time, John Stones’ cross found Steven Pienaar at the back post and the South African did well to set up Naismith to restore Everton’s lead.
Despite an appearance on the pitch from world snooker champion Mark Selby —known as the Jester from Leicester — at half-time, the hosts continued to find possession hard to come by as Everton dominated the middle of the pitch. When their chance did finally come, it was a moment Jeffrey Schlupp won’t want to remember in a hurry. Despite an appearance on the pitch from world snooker champion Mark Selby at half-time, the hosts continued to find possession hard to come by as Everton dominated the middle of the pitch. When their chance did finally come, it was a moment Jeffrey Schlupp won’t want to remember in a hurry.
The winger had just replaced Knockaert when he was played in by Dean Hammond but with just Tim Howard to beat, his first touch was lucky to land in row Z. Other than that, there was little to worry the Everton defence marshalled superbly by Phil Jagielka.The winger had just replaced Knockaert when he was played in by Dean Hammond but with just Tim Howard to beat, his first touch was lucky to land in row Z. Other than that, there was little to worry the Everton defence marshalled superbly by Phil Jagielka.
Having taken a theatrical dive that saw referee Mike Jones conned into booking Barry, Ulloa was withdrawn in favour of Wood and immediately Leicester looked more of a threat. Barry was then lucky to escape a second caution after blocking the run of Mahrez into space when the break looked on. Having taken a theatrical dive that saw referee Mike Jones conned into booking Barry, Ulloa was withdrawn in favour of Wood and immediately Leicester looked more of a threat. Barry was then lucky to escape a second caution after blocking the run of Mahrez into space when the break looked on.
The Algerian was to have the last laugh, however. With five minutes left, a jinking run left three players in his wake before his shot deflected straight to the unmarked Wood in acres of space and the New Zealander made no mistake to draw Leicester level. The Algerian was to have the last laugh, however. With four minutes left, a jinking run left three players in his wake before his shot deflected straight to the unmarked Wood in acres of space and the New Zealander made no mistake to draw Leicester level.
A superb clearance from Liam Moore at the other end denied Naismith would surely would have been the winner in the dying seconds of normal time but Leicester held firm to secure what could be a very valuable point come the end of the season. A superb clearance from Liam Moore at the other end denied Naismith what would surely would have been the winner in the dying seconds of normal time but Leicester held firm to secure what could be a very valuable point come the end of the season.