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Post by Football News on Dec 30, 2015 1:47:40 GMT
Kasper Schmeichel saves earn Leicester a point against Manchester City Leicester 0 - 0 Man CityKasper Schmeichel of Leicester City dives at Sergio Agüero’s feet to stop the Manchester City forward scoring. Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Barclays Premier LeagueIt is probably a measure of how far Leicester City have come in the past year that they might reflect on a goalless draw against an expensively assembled cast of Premier League all-stars with a tinge of disappointment. Claudio Ranieri’s team could not conjure up the win that would mean finishing the year looking down on everybody else but they matched a side that has won the title in two of the past four seasons and Jamie Vardy could probably be excused on this one occasion that he was unable to take the chance that might have sent them back to the top of the division. Vardy’s first-half miss was incongruous to how the rest of his season has gone but Leicester should not be too distraught when they have reached the midway point in the leading pack, and are denied top spot only by goal difference. They did not always show the adventure seen at other times this season but it was indicative, perhaps, that the last piece of action involved Riyad Mahrez bamboozling Kevin De Bruyne, the most expensive player in the league, with a wonderfully impudent Cruyff turn. Leicester, the success story of 2015, gave the impression they still want to be in our thoughts in 2016, too. Mahrez became increasingly dangerous as the game wore on but here was a night when Manchester City reminded themselves it was possible to keep out the opposition without Vincent Kompany and, for Manuel Pellegrini, that cannot be understated when they had registered only one clean sheet in the previous 13 matches, with a worse goals-against column than Crystal Palace and Stoke City. Pellegrini’s team still look short of their most exhilarating peaks but, defensively, this was a clear improvement when they have been so susceptible recently without their captain. Joe Hart was protected well, for the most part, and in some ways it was a surprise Leicester did not have more faith in themselves to expose those defensive flaws. One of the joys of Leicester’s rise has been their willingness to take the game to their opponents from the first whistle. Here, though, there was a measure of conservatism, with a new-look 4-1-4-1 system. “Perhaps they did it out of respect for us,” Pellegrini volunteered. “It is the first time I can remember they have used four midfielders and only one attacker.” Ranieri’s team were clearly mindful about how devastating their opponents could be on the counterattack. The high sense of adventure that has been Leicester’s trademark was missing in the opening exchanges and, for the first time in a long time, it was possible as well to detect a few nerves among the crowd. Leicester’s defeat at Liverpool on Boxing Day was their first since September and there was a sense early on, as passes were misplaced and the ball aimed long, that their momentum may have been broken or at least that it was beginning to fray around the edges. The old confidence did gradually begin to seep back but Leicester were indebted to Kasper Schmeichel’s goalkeeping during those moments in the first half when the movement and speed of their opponents left them vulnerable. Raheem Sterling had been moved from the wing to take up a more central position. He was an elusive opponent while in the wide positions Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva showed their soft-touch refinement. With Sergio Agüero lurking in dangerous places, that attacking quartet always gave Pellegrini’s team a menacing edge in the opening 45 minutes. All the same Leicester still created the two most inviting chances of the first half. The home side took a while to work up a head of steam but suddenly burst into life with a flurry of pressure at the end of that period. Marc Albrighton could not apply the finishing touch after a wonderful left-wing delivery from Christian Fuchs and, shortly afterwards, the ball was at Vardy’s feet in the position where he loves to be, bearing down on goal with the time to draw back his foot and pick his spot. Fernandinho had lost possession in front of his own penalty area and Vardy, played in by Danny Drinkwater, has been so prolific this season it came almost as a jolt that he could not punish that carelessness. His shot flew over the crossbar and the crowd went into half-time wondering how costly that miss might prove. Vardy’s directness and raw pace, coupled with his absolute determination to influence the course of the match, still made him a dangerous player and Leicester began the second half with a new impetus. Drinkwater might not attract the same publicity as Vardy or Mahrez but his intelligent midfield play has been a prominent factor in Leicester’s success and he had another fine game. N’Golo Kanté showed his qualities again and, more than anything, Leicester seemed more intent on examining the capabilities of Nicolás Otamendi and Eliquim Mangala. As it turned out, City’s central defenders looked more assured than at other times this season. For Leicester Wes Morgan can reflect on a night when he eventually got the better of Agüero, leading to the Argentinian’s substitution on 63 minutes. He did not look too happy when he came off, convinced that he had been fouled inside the penalty area in the previous attack. That was the second penalty appeal Craig Pawson turned down, having decided that Danny Simpson’s handball did not constitute a spot-kick, but Pellegrini rarely criticises referees and did not want to prolong the argument afterwards. Guardian
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