Harvey Barnes scored a brilliant second-half equalizer to help Leicester produce one of the close football results of the weekend in the Premier League. The result had little impact on Leicester’s league position (they remain 16th, one point above the relegation zone), but under-pressure manager Brendan Rodgers would have been encouraged by the manner his team turned the game around after the break. In the first half, Brentford took advantage of Leicester’s poor finishing, with Mathias Jensen (32) smashing home a deflected goal after a corner routine caused havoc in the Leicester area. The Foxes have lost all eight Premier League games this season when down at half-time, but it took only seven minutes in the second half to level in west London.
Leicester’s lone shot on goal of the game, but after a terrible few weeks in which they had lost four consecutive Premier League games and crashed out of the FA Cup at home to Championship club Blackburn, this will feel like a step forward. Brentford’s substitute Shandon Baptiste was sent off in the last minutes after receiving two yellow cards in quick succession, but the draw extended the Bees’ unbeaten home record to 10 Premier League games. They are level on points with seventh-placed Brighton in the race for a European qualifying spot, but the Seagulls have two games in hand. Brentford heads to Brighton following the international break.
After his club had shipped 21 goals in 11 games since the World Cup, Rodgers replaced goalkeeper Danny Ward with Premier League newcomer Daniel Iversen, and the Dane watched his defenders struggle to deal with the hosts’ fast, straight start. Leicester appeared to have survived the storm, with Barnes and Patson Daka striking wide as the visitors seized control. Brentford seized the lead shortly after the half-hour mark, thanks to a set piece after Bryan Mbeumo’s warning shot.
Leicester were unable to deal with a well-worked corner, and Jensen attacked with zeal and was rewarded with a deflection. For the ninth time in a row, Leicester has allowed the first goal in a Premier League game. Their lack of innovation appeared to be exposed once more, but Leicester made magnificent team plays in 52 minutes to claw their way back into the game. Dewsbury-Hall drew a few challenges before passing the ball to Maddison in the final third, who slipped in Barnes to loft the ball over David Raya.
Brentford’s turn to go without a shot on goal came in the second half, with Harry Souttar doing an excellent job of keeping Ivan Toney at bay. Instead, the latter phases were defined by a series of fouls by subs. Boubakary Soumare of Leicester scored three goals in his cameo, but Baptiste drew two yellow cards in three minutes and 12 seconds, forcing the home club to play the balance of the injury time with ten men. They did exactly that, keeping their unblemished home record of only one loss this season – but given their recent success, they will feel they should have extended their first-half lead.
“That, I feel, was a fair outcome for both sides. We came out firing, putting pressure on Leicester, and taking a well-deserved lead. We were unable to maintain our momentum in the second half, which was disappointing,” Brentford boss Thomas Frank said. “I stated before the game that we needed to keep Maddison and Barnes in check. They are the team’s top two attacking players, and they scored the game-winning goal. Following that, I felt we were lacking in final polish, and the structure suffered slightly. That happens on occasion when none of the attacking players give their all. I’m quite pleased with the crew’s efforts.”
“It breaks the outcomes loop that we were in. We really deserved it, and we had a chance to win it in the second half,” Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers said. “The team’s fight and spirit impressed me greatly. We had to defend a lot of set pieces today, and I thought the players did a fantastic job. Souttar was incredible. I don’t think either team had many chances, but as the game proceeded, we got a good goal and appeared to be in a position to win.”
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