Leicester stay in the Premier League relegation zone after the shutout
Leicester City were unable to ease the pressure on manager Brendan Rodgers as they were held to a frustrating goalless draw by Crystal Palace at King Power Stadium.
The Foxes had their moments but struggled to find impetus and remain in the Premier League relegation zone, with the 4-0 win over bottom club Nottingham Forest two weeks ago appearing a false dawn.
It felt like a day when the first goal would be crucial and Leicester's nerves were evident from the start as Palace exerted early pressure.
But the home side sprung into life when Harvey Barnes and Patson Daka combined to unlock the Palace defence, before Daka forced Vicente Guaita into a smart save.
Patrick Vieira's Palace lacked zip in attack as the first half developed, but showed a spark through Eberechi Eze, who flashed a shot over from the edge of the box with the break looming.
In the second half it was telling that James Maddison was seeing more of the ball, but he twice missed the target before the hour, shooting over from close range and then wide after driving forward.
As time ticked on, very little changed. Neither side were able to force the issue, despite the introduction of Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho. This game was there for Leicester's taking, but confidence eluded them.
Lack of punch costs Foxes
The stop-start nature of the game spoke volumes for both sides in different ways.
Palace were looking to frustrate first and do their damage on the counter-attack through Wilfried Zaha's pace; they weren't overly successful, but it pointed to deeper issues for Leicester.
Nervous energy filled the stadium and, given the Foxes had lost seven of their previous nine league games, that was understandable.
But it meant Leicester only attacked in spurts, with flashes from Barnes, Daka and Maddison, but never really enough to build momentum and win the game. Wout Faes, their only major summer signing, was their standout player at the back.
This was another long afternoon in what is becoming a long season for Rodgers' side, summed up by the talismanic Maddison picking up a booking for simulation that will keep him out of Thursday's match with Leeds.
Zaha on the periphery for Palace
Being substituted inside the last 15 minutes with the game still on a knife-edge epitomised Zaha's day.
There were moments for the visitors, with Eze particularly busy in midfield, but they couldn't find the killer pass to make the difference.
Zaha cut a frustrated figure on an afternoon he'll have come into hoping to have a decisive impact.
This is Palace's second successive goalless draw on the road, and they didn't do enough to gain all three points again.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsLeicester
Formation 4-1-4-1
1Ward27Castagne18Amartey3Faes2Justin42Soumaré10Maddison8Tielemans22Dewsbury-Hall7Barnes20Daka
- 1Ward27Castagne18Amartey3Faes2Justin42SoumaréSubstituted forMendyat 65'minutes10MaddisonBooked at 90mins8TielemansSubstituted forPraetat 82'minutes22Dewsbury-Hall7BarnesSubstituted forIheanachoat 85'minutes20DakaSubstituted forVardyat 65'minutesBooked at 81mins
Substitutes
- 4Söyüncü9Vardy11Albrighton14Iheanacho17Pérez24Mendy26Praet31Iversen33Thomas
Crystal Palace
Formation 4-3-3
13Guaita2Ward16Andersen6Guéhi3Mitchell15Schlupp28Doucouré10Eze9J Ayew22Édouard11Zaha
- 13Guaita2Ward16AndersenBooked at 11mins6Guéhi3MitchellSubstituted forRiedewaldat 56'minutes15Schlupp28DoucouréBooked at 45minsSubstituted forMilivojevicat 56'minutes10Eze9J Ayew22ÉdouardSubstituted forOliseat 65'minutes11ZahaSubstituted forMatetaat 77'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Milivojevic5Tomkins7Olise14Mateta21Johnstone23Ebiowei43Balmer44Riedewald45Gordon
Referee:Andy MadleyAttendance:31,298Match StatsHome TeamLeicesterAway TeamCrystal PalacePossessionHome53%Away47%ShotsHome14Away8Shots on TargetHome5Away1CornersHome9Away2FoulsHome18Away13Live Text Post update
Match ends, Leicester City 0, Crystal Palace 0.
90'+5'Full Time
Second Half ends, Leicester City 0, Crystal Palace 0.
90'+4'Booking
James Maddison (Leicester City) is shown the yellow card.
90'+4'Post update
James Maddison (Leicester City) has gone down, but the referee deems it simulation.
90'+3'Post update
Foul by Timothy Castagne (Leicester City).
90'+3'Post update
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+2'Post update
Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Marc Guéhi.
90'+2'Post update
James Maddison (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'+2'Post update
Foul by Luka Milivojevic (Crystal Palace).
90'Post update
Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Marc Guéhi.
90'Post update
Attempt blocked. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Leicester City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Kelechi Iheanacho.
90'Post update
Attempt saved. Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by James Maddison.
89'Post update
Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Marc Guéhi.
89'Post update
Nampalys Mendy (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
89'Post update
Foul by Luka Milivojevic (Crystal Palace).
88'Post update
Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Timothy Castagne.
88'Post update
Hand ball by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Leicester City).
85'Substitution
Substitution, Leicester City. Kelechi Iheanacho replaces Harvey Barnes.
83'Post update
Daniel Amartey (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
83'Post update
Foul by Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace).
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Player of the match
GuaitaVicente Guaita
with an average of 6.55
- LeicesterLeicester CityLeicester CityCrystal PalaceCrystal PalaceCrystal Palace
Leicester CityAvgSquad number20Player nameDakaAverage rating
6.53
Squad number10Player nameMaddisonAverage rating
6.30
Squad number7Player nameBarnesAverage rating
6.25
Squad number3Player nameFaesAverage rating
6.18
Squad number27Player nameCastagneAverage rating
6.04
Squad number2Player nameJustinAverage rating
5.97
Squad number26Player namePraetAverage rating
5.97
Squad number8Player nameTielemansAverage rating
5.82
Squad number22Player nameDewsbury-HallAverage rating
5.80
Squad number42Player nameSoumaréAverage rating
5.71
Squad number24Player nameMendyAverage rating
5.64
Squad number18Player nameAmarteyAverage rating
5.60
Squad number14Player nameIheanachoAverage rating
5.58
Squad number9Player nameVardyAverage rating
5.51
Squad number1Player nameWardAverage rating
5.45
Crystal PalaceAvgSquad number13Player nameGuaitaAverage rating
6.55
Squad number10Player nameEzeAverage rating
6.51
Squad number22Player nameÉdouardAverage rating
5.94
Squad number16Player nameAndersenAverage rating
5.87
Squad number44Player nameRiedewaldAverage rating
5.83
Squad number28Player nameDoucouréAverage rating
5.78
Squad number15Player nameSchluppAverage rating
5.71
Squad number9Player nameJ AyewAverage rating
5.66
Squad number6Player nameGuéhiAverage rating
5.62
Squad number4Player nameMilivojevicAverage rating
5.55
Squad number2Player nameWardAverage rating
5.52
Squad number3Player nameMitchellAverage rating
5.28
Squad number11Player nameZahaAverage rating
5.26
Squad number7Player nameOliseAverage rating
5.18
Squad number14Player nameMatetaAverage rating
4.98
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Source: bbc.com