The Tigers led but then had to come from 2-1 down to get a point
Jannik Vestergaard of Leicester City in action with Oliver McBurnie of Hull City(Image: Leicester City FC via Getty Images)
Hull City were forced to settle for another potentially costly draw as they dropped out of the top six with two games to play after being held by relegated L:eicester City.
Liam Millar’s goal after 18 minutes gave the visitors a slender lead at the break, and though City had chances to pull clear, the Foxes should have levelled when Patson Daka somehow poked wide when it looked easier to score.
Two goals in two minutes early in the second half turned the game on its head, with City finding themselves behind. A rash challenge from Lewis Koumas saw him give away a penalty, allowing Jordan James to fire home, and moments later, Luke Thomas hammered in at the back post as City’s frailties were exposed again. Sergej Jakirovic was sent off for his fury at City’s capitulation.
Oli McBurnie dragged the visitors back on terms with a terrific finish just past the hour mark but the hosts, fighting for survival, came closest to snatching it.
City go into the final two games knowing they must better Wrexham’s score to clinch a play-off place.
Jakirovic made two changes from the draw with Birmingham City, with Ryan Giles returning to the starting line-up, along with John Lundstram, following his one-game suspension. After a four-game absence, Regan Slater was back in the squad and named on the bench. Amir damaged his knee at the weekend is now a doubt for the remaining two games.
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One of the stranger pre-match atmospheres as the Foxes players were booed when they were introduced to the supporters, with Jordan James the only one cheered on his return, while Harry Winks was roundly booed.
The hosts had two sights of goal early on with Patson Daka lifting onto the roof of the net after indecision between Ajayi and Pandur, before Mukasa drove wide from the edge of the box.
Amid a flurry of corners, City survived and then capitalised on a huge mistake from goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, when he passed it straight to Millar, who steadied himself before finding the far corner with a neat finish. City should have doubled their lead when Belloumi fed Gelhardt who rolled it to Crooks who blazed over from the edge of the box.
Giles was booked after a swift Foxes break threatened to cause serious problems, with dragging down Fatawu outside the box, while at the other end, Crooks’ goalbound flick was well saved by Begovic.
City had more chances with Millar blazing over, before somehow Patson Daka turned wide from Thomas’ cross when it looked easier to score, than miss. The visitors led at the break, the third game in a row they held the interval advantage.
That advantage didn’t last long, as the game turned on its head early in the second half. Koumas fouled his man and from the spot, Jordan James powered in the penalty. Moments later, De Cordova Reid’s cross was turned in at the far post by Thomas. City were crumbling but they recovered, and showed their battling qualities.
Jakirovic was then sent off as tempers flared on the touchline, and City’s season threatened to collapse. Harry Winks was booed when he replaced James.
McBurnie had other ideas, slamming in the equaliser just after the hour, after good work from Crooks and Millar. Yu Hirakawa and Slater were introduced with 19 minutes left, replacing Millar and Lundstram, just after Ajayi’s header looped wide.
Leicester hit the bar as City were rocking again and looking in real danger. Aaron Ramsey, off the bench, blazed over in the final 10 minutes.
Pandur was booked when he came racing out and cleaned out Daka outside the box, with the Foxes furious he wasn’t sent off.Egan went through in stoppage time but saw his shoit saved by Begovic, and then Pandur made a fine save to keep City on terms.
A chaotic second half ended with both sets of players on their knees. Leicester were booed off, City cheered and they go to Charlton on Saturday in search of a huge victory and their play-off hopes well and truly alive.
Leicester City: Begovic; Ricardo, Lascelles, Vestergaard, Thomas; Skipp, James; Fatawu, Mukasa, De Cordova-Reid; Daka. Subs: Stolarczyk, Souttar, Choudhury, Winks, Aribo, Ramsey, Monga, Mavididi, Ayew.
Hull City: Pandur, Giles, Ajayi, Egan, Coyle (c), Lundstram, Crooks, Gelhardt, Millar, Belloumi, McBurnie. Subs: Phillips, Hughes, Matazo, Hirakawa, Jacob, Joseph, Slater, Koumas, McNair.
Referee: Thomas Kirk
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