Rudiger brace helps keep Blues in pole position for fourth place

ANTONIO RUDIGER made light of Chelsea’s failed striker search after his brace earned the Blues a point at Leicester.

The defender’s goals — his first since October 2018 — ensured they stayed eight points behind the Foxes in fourth position.

Chelsea, who had their transfer ban lifted last month, failed to make a signing in January while forward Tammy Abraham played through the pain of an ankle injury at the King Power Stadium.

Ben Chilwell’s second-half strike had looked to have eased the Foxes’ pain after a last-gasp exit to Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup semi-final on Tuesday.

He put the hosts 2-1 ahead after in-form Harvey Barnes had cancelled out Rudiger’s opener.

But the Dutchman had the final say with his 71st-minute equaliser.

Brendan Rodgers insisted afterwards that the Foxes remain ‘super underdogs’ in the race for the top four.

‘We still have a lot of work to do. We didn’t lose any ground today but there’s still a huge fight for us to stay where we are,’ he said.

Rodgers also felt Leicester should have had a penalty in added time after the ball hit Rudiger’s arm.

He said: ‘If we don’t get that handball I’m not sure we’ll get another one. That’s as clear as you can get. It hits his hand, he is swivelling around and he’s been quite cute about it as well to stop it.

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard later insisted Willy Caballero was not to blame for Leicester’s second goal after picking his stand-in keeper over £71million Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Caballero drew the spotlight at 1-1 when he chased a cross and was out of position as Chilwell finished for 2-1.

Asked if Caballero was at fault, Lampard said: ‘Not in my opinion, no. As the ball travels on the cross, it is a mis-hit cross and he follows that and he retreats to his goal when he realises he can’t get it.

‘The problem was that when we defend we sink to the six-yard box and, when Chilwell pops up, someone has to be tighter.

‘We have to be competitive. Willy trains well and acts well and did well against Hull last week and I decided to stick with him.’