Rare Vardy error adds to Leicester frustration

JAMIE VARDY missed a secondhalf penalty as Leicester were held to a draw that puts a dent in their Europa League hopes.

Five minutes after replacing Patson Daka — who scored all four goals when Leicester beat Spartak 4-3 in Russia — Vardy was presented with the chance to become his side’s record European scorer, but saw his spot-kick saved. Leicester also hit the woodwork twice through Boubakary Soumare and Kelechi Iheanacho.

Former Chelsea player Victor Moses had put Spartak ahead early in the second half, with Daniel Amartey equalising moments later.

Leicester remain third in the group after this result, two points behind leaders Napoli, with a home game against Legia Warsaw and a trip to Napoli to come. Daka was the hero last time out but he made little impact here.

Leicester have now kept only one clean sheet in their last 15 games.

‘We are conceding too many goals but had enough chances to win it,’ said goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. ‘It is something we are working on every single day but it is not working too well.’

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Vardy of blame for his miss, saying: ‘You wouldn’t want any other guy on the penalty. He’s saved the team and the club so many times. It was just unfortunate.’

But he did call on his side to work harder, adding: ‘It’s simple, you have to run. You have to do the dirty things and if you don’t run it makes it difficult for you.’

The home side came desperately close to taking the lead in the 18th minute when Soumare’s ferocious strike from 25 yards bounced off the underside of the bar.

But Spartak did edge ahead six minutes after the interval. Mikhail Ignatov escaped on the right and crossed for Moses, who headed past Schmeichel from 10 yards.

Leicester were level within seven minutes as Ayoze Perez flicked on Ryan Bertrand’s corner and Amartey headed home.

The hosts looked like winning it when Moses tugged back Ademola Lookman, only for Vardy to put his 76th-minute spot kick far too close to Aleksandr Selikhov.

Leicester’s frustration grew when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall headed Timothy Castagne’s cross into Iheanacho, who hit the rebound against the outside of the post from a tight angle.