Category: Football

Norwich City managed to hold on to get a point in their 1-1 draw against Leicester City in a feisty fixture at the King Power Stadium.

Leicester came in to the game having won their previous eight league games and will feel hard done by having not kept that run going today. The game started quickly with chances falling to both sides early on.

It was Leicester who seemed to be getting the better chances in the first few minutes with a couple chances falling for Kelchi Iheanacho but neither would trouble, Norwich keeper, Tim Krul.

15 minutes in, a good piece of passing from Leicester in the middle of the pitch allowed Youri Tielemens to cut inside and fire towards the near post and despite initially spilling the shot, Krul did manage to grab a hold before Jamie Vardy could follow in.

Just a minute later, Norwich working it down the right-hand side, an overlapping run from fullback Max Aarons gave him the space to cross low towards the far post with Teemu Pukki narrowly putting it wide. Pukki would’ve felt he could’ve done better.

Moving on in to the 26th minute of the game Norwich found themselves ahead. Space for Emi Buendia allowed him to expertly place a through ball to the feet of Pukki who had time to pick his spot, in to the bottom corner, leaving keeper Kasper Schmeichel stranded.

Controversy a few minutes later when Leicester City refused to put the ball out of play despite Norwich insistently reminding them they had a player down. When the ball did eventually go out, the drop ball was given to Leicester and instead of passing the ball back to Norwich, Iheanacho ran at the defence and won a freekick on the edge of the box. Norwich players surrounded both him and the referee and all the resulted was a yellow card for Todd Cantwell.

Five minutes on and Leicester found themselves on level terms. The corner came in from James Maddison and its flicked towards goal by Jamie Vardy who thought he’d scored in his ninth consecutive game but the header was palmed into the net by Krul who was off his line.

Just before the break, manager Brendan Rodgers decided to take off Iheanacho, after his decision to not pass the ball back to Norwich earlier. Despite emotions beginning to rise, both sides went into half time at one goal apiece.

More chances in the second half from both sides, with both keepers having to make saves. Vardy continued to push for a goal after his effort in the first half was given as an own goal.

Norwich defended well for the whole of the second half, preventing both Wilfred Ndidi and Maddison from getting their shots in.

Another chance for Pukki with a terrific ball over the top of the defence for him to run on too and just before he could pull the trigger Caglar Soyuncu got an excellent block in to deny Pukki getting his second of the game.

The game finished 1-1, with Leicester feeling hard done by, not being able to get all three points but take nothing away from Norwich’s defensive display. It was a hard fought point for the Canaries who remain second from bottom in the table. Leicester remain second but now 10 points behind leaders Liverpool.

Leicester would’ve liked all three points going in to their next two Premier League games against Manchester City and Liverpool. A difficult end to 2019 for the Foxes. Norwich host Wolves in their next fixture.

BRE SPORT NEWS MAN OF THE MATCH: Sam Byram. An excellent defensive display by the Norwich left-back. Helped his side hold on to their well earned point despite numerous opportunities for Leicester to win it.