THE GREAT ESCAPE IS ON AFTER ANOTHER KEY POINT
SWANSEA City battled their way to a hard-earned draw and a priceless point to lift them out of the Premier League relegation zone and add to the belief that Carlos Carvalhal could be about to pull off another great escape.
Visits to Leicester have been stories of abject miseries for Swansea. They had lost their last seven away fixtures in the city, and have not tasted victory since 1950.
At half-time of this contest you would gladly have wagered a fair few quid that it was about to be eight in a row as they trailed to Jamie Vardy’s goal following 45 minutes where they barely landed a blow on the Foxes.
Indeed, only a tremendous save from Lukasz Fabianski, followed by a great block from Alfie Mawson, ensured they only trailed by the solitary goal.
But - after some stern words and guidance from Carvalhal - they roused themselves from the ropes for long enough to stagger the former champions as Federico Fernandez headed in the equaliser.
There were anxious moments during the closing moments but they held out to climb out of the bottom three for the second time in a week.
Just over a month ago they would not have been able to weather the storm and respond, but back-to-back wins over Liverpool and Arsenal have given a tangible lift.
One loss in six in the top-flight, one in nine in all competitions, has broken a losing habit.
This was a very different performance from the midweek win over Arsenal, but it arguably provided even greater evidence that Swansea can beat the drop once again because the character is there, even when the quality isn’t.
Swansea have now taken seven key points after falling behind against Watford, Arsenal and Leicester, they had taken just one under such circumstances before the arrival of the Portuguese.
Not that this was pretty viewing. The victory over the Gunners had been full of vim and vigour, attacking play exhibiting plenty of swash and no little buckle.
If on that night Swansea had been almost unrecognisable from much of the fare served up this term, the first half here would have been eminently familiar to members of the travelling support.
They may not have had transfer rebel Riyad Mahrez, but the hosts set about their opponents in purposeful fashion, penning Swansea back and
asking all manner of questions.
With Swansea set-up in a 5-4-1 shape rather than 5-3-2, Fer and Ki Sung-yueng looked vulnerable as the positioning of Kelechi Iheanacho and Fousseni Diabate in between the defensive lines caused all manner of problems.
The opener transpired through such problems as Harry Maguire’s routine pass put Iheanacho in space behind the midfield.
Fernandez and Mike van der Hoorn both hurtled out to stop the Leicester man, meaning there was no cover as his pass played in Vardy with predictable results.
The visitors were pushed so deep that in-form Jordan Ayew was starved of support and services and it was largely one-way traffic.
Nathan Dyer then got a let-off after failing to track Diabate, Fabianski made the initial save with Mawson standing strong to divert Iheanacho’s goal-bound follow-up.
Leicester thought they had a second when Wilfried Ndidi finished smartly, but Swansea remonstrated with referee Anthony Taylor that they had seen the assistant raise his flag for an offside earlier in play.
A quick chat between the two officials and the goal was chalked off.
That may have been good news, but the sight of Fer in agony on the ground after falling with no-one near him was not.
The Dutchman has been vastly improved under Carvalhal and the timing of this Achilles injury very cruel.
The delay to treat the midfielder seemed to sap some of Leicester’s momentum and Swansea reached the break and the sanctuary of the dressing room without further damage.
Carvalhal would have been relieved - admitting post-match that he would have called a time-out on occasions during the first half if they were allowed.
There were signs of life after the break, Ayew and Dyer finally getting into the game and having some support around them.
And the improvement paid dividends as Ki swung in the corner and Fernandez made amends for the lack of communication for Vardy’s goal by heading home his first goal of the campaign.
From that point it was a wide open affair. Diabate nearly finished off a flowing Leicester counter-attack, while Sam Clucas saw his swivel and volley blocked by Maguire.
The final 20 minutes saw Swansea under siege but - with Van der Hoorn, Fernandez, Mawson and Fabianski to the fore - they return to South Wales with another point on the board and bristling with a belief and momentum so lacking barely a month ago.