Foxes thwart United to bolster Rodgers’ claims
LEICESTER CITY 2 Barnes (31), Tuanzebe (og 85) MANCHESTER UNITED 2 Rashford (23), Fernandes (79) Boss Brendan Rodgers believes Leicester have proved they can handle themselves at the top of the Premier League.
Axel Tuanzebe’s late own goal earned the Foxes a draw against Manchester United after Bruno Fernandes’ strike looked to have given the visitors victory.
Marcus Rashford netted his 50th Premier League goal when he opened the scoring, before Harvey Barnes struck Leicester’s first leveller.
The Foxes remain second, a point ahead of United and subject to other results, but leaders Liverpool now have the chance to stretch their three-point lead when they host West Brom today.
Leicester had already beaten Manchester City, Tottenham and Arsenal this season and Rodgers feels the point on Boxing Day underlines their credentials.
He said: “We gave them lots of problems and, looking at it, we had some real authority in the game. It shows we are developing and able to compete at the highest level.
“We showed lots of potential last year, but with more coaching time and more confidence the players will improve.
“When you play against huge clubs, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, they have that personality, but we played with personality and authority in the game.
“We’re nowhere near in terms of budget but from a football perspective we were competitive.
“It was the very least we deserved. We showed real quality and showed we can compete at the level against a team who had won every game away from home.”
Leicester’s home form – losing four – had been their Achilles heel this season and they were almost punished after 71 seconds when Rashford missed a golden chance.
Patient build-up ended with Fernandes crossing for Rashford, but he planted an unmarked header over from six yards.
It was an awful miss and United nearly paid the price a minute later when Vardy knocked Marc Albrighton’s cross over.
An entertaining opening continued and the visitors survived a let-off when David De Gea and Harry Maguire made a mess of things before Eric Bailly hacked Marc Albrighton’s centre away.
Slowly, Leicester appeared to settle and started to control the ball only for Rashford to atone for his horror miss after 23 minutes.
After intricate play on the left Fernandes poked Daniel James’ ball forward for Rashford, who had run off the back of James Justin, to coolly find the bottom corner. Yet, the lead lasted just eight minutes when a rare mistake from Fernandes allowed Wilfred Ndidi to rob him and James Maddison then found Barnes to rifle in from 20 yards.
There was little to separate the sides during a lively first half, although Fernandes glanced Luke Shaw’s free kick over, and United began the second on the front foot.
Wesley Fofana had to be alert to halt James’ break and a superb Kasper Schmeichel save denied Rashford a second after Fred slipped him clear on the hour.
Anthony Martial also had a goal rightly ruled out for offside as United’s intensity grew and the Foxes struggled to make inroads.
Maguire headed over against his former club, but the visitors found the goal they had threatened with 11 minutes left.
Edinson Cavani had made a positive impact since replacing Martial and his driving run ended when he played Fernandes through to finish low past Schmeichel.
But the Foxes hit back again with five minutes remaining when Vardy fired in Ayoze Perez’s cross, the ball taking a big deflection off Tuanzebe, to earn a point.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said:
“We feel disappointed, the boys are flat. We defended well, but they had the one moment at the end, great movement from Vardy and he got a bit lucky and it hit Axel. You can’t switch off against quality players.
“We created big chances, it was a good game – end to end – with two teams who are quick on the counter attack.
“We felt we deserved more from the game.” Fernandes’ strike was his 14th of the season and he has been directly involved in over half of United’s Premier League goals – 31 out of 60 – since his debut in January.
“He is definitely a player who impacts results, he creates chances, scores goals and takes risks,” Solskjaer said.
“Any Manchester United player should be brave enough to do that. He is a brave boy and he sees the pass and takes the moments.
“Sometimes I might tear my hair out and say there is an easier pass, but you can’t take that away from Bruno. You want him to be the X-factor.
“We all have a role to play and he is playing his to the top of his ability.”