Boro pay the penalty but Leicester accept risk of relegation

And they would have been in an even more precarious position domestically if Islam Slimani hadn’t converted a stoppage time penalty equaliser against Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Negredo (above), on loan from Valencia, finally ended his 11 game starvation in the 13th minute when he buried a Ramires cross.

Riyad Mahrez equalised from the penalty spot after Calum Chambers was judged to have handled.

Yet the home fans couldn’t begrudge Boro’s second goal of the game when Forshaw lofted a perfectly-weighted pass forward to Negredo.

For large parts of the game, the Foxes lacked any kind of zip or objective about their play. Very inconsistent in the league with 12 points from 12 matches, which has left them in 14th spot.

It has been an entirely different story in the Premier League. Chelsea very easily could have made the win more comfortable, with Pedro nearly scoring a lovely half-volley, but the ball crashed into the cross bar.

The hosts first real attack came on the half hour mark when Mahrez received the ball in space on the right and took on Boro full back Fabio.

It wasn’t until Ranieri introduced Slimani – for Vardy – and Ahmed Musa – for Mahrez – that the Foxes began threaten Victor Valdes’ goal. Riyad Mahrez doubled Leicester’s lead in the 29th minute with his fourth goal in the Champions League.

But irrespective of that, Vardy’s performance was subdued, as was his body language.

On Alvaro Negredo: “Always when a striker is not scoring goals you will hear the critics”.

The Foxes are sitting pretty at the top of Group G having dropped just two points from 15 games and qualified for the knock-out stages already. We are going to have one or two chances per game.

Danny Simpson hopes Islam Slimani’s last-second equaliser against Middlesbrough could be a turning point in Leicester City’s Premier League struggles.

Leicester should win this match but Middlesbrough will look to frustrate their opposition and the home support with their defensive-minded approach.

Pearson was in charge at the King Power Stadium before the Italian was appointed at the beginning of last season. “We showed fantastic spirit”. “Maybe we have a little more concentration”, said Ranieri of his players’ efforts in Europe. Twice fighting back is not easy.

If that is a lesson for Leicester’s next opposition, they might also want to start rehearsing defending crosses once the round of 16 draw is made.

“I think everybody covers him very carefully and, also, [Riyad] Mahrez is not a surprise for teams because everybody is very anxious about him”.

“Drinky is an important player for us but I’m sure the team will react very well”.

“As the season goes on, we’ll keep getting better and better”.

“However, it’s unfair to draw this game”. Our performances with and without the ball have been good.

It is still hard to comprehend the enormity of what the club achieved just six months ago, but it seems at least one Leicester fan is already sick of not seeing his team at the top. “I want everything ideal and I know perfection doesn’t exist”.