CRYSTAL PALACE 2 LEICESTER 2

BY AYODELE ODUMADE AT SELHURST PARK

Crystal Palace came from two goals down to grab a vital point in their quest to remain in the Premier League, in a highly entertaining game against Leicester. It was thought that Leicester might make a few changes with one eye on their make or break second leg Champions League tie against Athletico Madrid on Tuesday.

However Craig Shakespeare fielded a strong side to try and get the points, which would virtually guarantee their safety after a disappointing first half of the season. “We needed to be competitive and we needed to pick a team to do that. We needed to make sure that the team selected was coming here to get a result,” said Shakespeare

 There were only seven minutes on the clock when Leicester City were awarded a throw in, which was taken by Christian Fuchs. The Palace defence stood still as Robert Huth headed past Wayne Hennessey to give the English Champions the lead.

Christian Benteke brought down the ball on his chest but Kasper Schmeichel spread himself and smothered his shot. Just before the break, Joel Ward played a slide rule pass to Andros Townsend who cut inside the Palace area but he could only find the side netting via a deflection.

The rest of the first half was pretty much scrappy as Leicester put up a rear guard with two banks of four as they they did not really need to go chasing the game having got the lead early. They led 0-1 at the break.

Just after the break Riyad Mahrez cut in from the right and curled a shot just wide of Hennessey’s right post. Palace went down the other end and won a corner, which was taken by Andros Townsend.  Leicester cleared the lines and within a blink of an eye on a counter attack, Mahrez played a diagonal ball to Jamie Vardy, who cut inside and hit a shot which Hennessey got a hand to but could not stop from going in to double Leicester’s lead.  The Leicester fans chanted, “That’s why we are champions.”

The Palace of old would have folded up but Sam Allardyce and instilled a mental toughness in this team and drilled into them that if they could not win games they should make sure they did not get beaten.

Within minutes Palace hit back as Nigerian International Wilfred Ndidi failed to clear his lines. The ball fell to former Leicester player Jeffrey Schlupp, who just about got enough onto the ball to steer it into the path of Yohan Cabaye, who swept it home from close range to reduce the deficit.

The game now became end-to-end   like a boxing contest.  In the 70^th minute Andros Townsend got down the by line on the left and whipped in a cross and Benteke soared above three defenders to head past Schmeichel to bring the Eagles level.  The Leicester players protested that Benteke had committed a foul but Mike Dean waved them away and gave the goal.

In stoppage time Danny Drinkwater had a chance to win the game but his shot flashed wide of goal.  On the balance of play 2-2 seemed a fair result.

 Shakespeare said: “I felt Crystal Palace’s goal was important to them and came just 2 minutes after we scored our second and we probably should be pleased with a point.”

On Benteke’s goal he said: “I have seen them given. We just have to go along with the referee’s decision.

Looking ahead to Tuesday’s game, Shakespeare said: “Wes Morgan’s injury looks better as he was able to join the group. We will give him every opportunity and work with the medical staff that will make the decision.

 Allardyce said: “ It is a great point for us. When you are 2-0 down home or away and you come back to draw you have to be satisfied with a point.  Physically and mentally we are very strong and the mental side saw us come back today.”

He also said: “I am very pleased about Christian Benteke as he is getting back to his game. Andros Townsend has turned himself into a top player again. He does that with his consistent amount of work in and out of possession.  With the cross for the second goal, he showed today he could go both ways either inside or outside. He has shown he is back to his best form for a while since his Tottenham days. Long may that continue.”