NEAL OUT-FOXED
SCHMEICHEL SAVES MAUPAY SPOT-KICK TO CLINCH POINT
THIS TIME it was Brighton striker Neal Maupay who should have grabbed something.
The Seagulls could have taken all three points home but for his 13th-minute penalty miss.
The French star blew his big chance to be the hero for the second time in four days.
It was Maupay who grabbed the headlines at the weekend with a late strike to stun Arsenal.
He was also the victim of Matteo Guendouzi’s throat grab after the 2-1 win over the Gunners.
And when James Justin sent Aaron Connolly tumbling, Maupay, right, was handed a gilt-edged opportunity to give Brighton a massive leg-up in their fight to avoid the drop. Foxes goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel saved the spot-kick and ensured they only took a point, but it might well prove to be a valuable one come the end of the season.
Leicester looked off-colour, never really able to slice the visitors apart with their rapid attacks.
They have only managed one win in their past seven league games and need to put that right if their bid to clinch a Champions League spot is not to be threatened.
Brighton made their intentions clear right from the off with a brisk opening spell which saw them cause a few problems.
Ben Chilwell did well to make a headed clearance from under his bar to snuff out a dangerous effort from
Alexis Mac Allister just two minutes in. The Seagulls really should have cashed in with that 13th-minute penalty after causing untold chaos in Leicester’s back line.
It was a long ball over the top from Aaron Mooy which had Leicester in a spin as Connolly beat Justin and homed in on goal. The duo were both trying to get the crucial touch when the Foxes defender sent his man tumbling and referee Lee Mason sought the final verdict of the VAR men, who came down on the side of a foul. Up stepped Maupay and after a split-second cat and mouse with keeper Schmeichel, it was the big Dane who came out on top, flying to his right to save. Leicester were looking jittery and it took a superb last-ditch intervention from Caglar Soyuncu to put in a block and get Connolly’s shot away.
Brighton only had a couple of panicky moments and the first, shortly before half-time, was selfinflicted when keeper Mat Ryan ‘boomeranged’ his attempted throw and ended up slinging it straight into the area, where Jamie Vardy was lurking.
It seemed to take the striker by surprise and the relieved keeper was able to throw himself onto the ball.
Soyuncu missed a close-range header and James Maddison threatened with a couple of efforts from long range but overall this was a sticky display by the Foxes. LEICESTER (4-2-3-1): Schmeichel 7; Justin 6, Evans 8, Soyuncu 7, Chilwell 6; Ndidi 6, Mendy 5 (Tielemans 68, 5); Gray 5 (Perez 73), Maddison 7, Iheanacho 5 (Barnes 68, 5); Vardy 6.
BRIGHTON (4-4-2): Ryan 6; Lamptey 7, Webster 5 (Duffy 22, 6), Dunk 6, Burn 6; Stephens 6, Bissouma 6 (Propper 59, 5), Mooy 7, Mac Allister 6 (March 59, 5); Connolly 7 (Murray 82), Maupay 7 (Trossard 59, 5).