Steve Howard scored a penalty in injury time to salvage a point for Leicester City against Sheffield United last night at the Walkers Stadium.
The hosts had initially gone ahead through Paul Gallagher’s superb free kick from 20 yards, but Mark Yeates netted twice for the Blades before half-time to give the visitors a slender lead.
However, Yeates was involved in Leicester’s equaliser when he was adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty area, allowing Steve Howard to bring the Foxes back on level terms in the second minute of stoppage time.
The result meant that Leicester’s unbeaten run at the Walkers Stadium now stretches back to September 18th, but City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson will be happy to take a point knowing his side lacked the cutting edge demonstrated against Barnsley last weekend.
Leicester were rewarded for yet another bright start when Paul Gallagher’s curling free kick flew into the top corner after Martyn Waghorn was brought down on the edge of the area.
The home side were then dominant for the next twenty minutes, but created few clear cut chances other than Andy King heading wide of Steve Simonsen in the Sheffield United goal.
Shortly afterwards, the Foxes were punished for their inability to turn possession into goals when, just before the half hour mark, Sheffield United caught Leicester on the counter attack through Andy Reid, who was able to find Mark Yeates in plenty of time and space to curl the ball past the helpless Chris Weale.
And with five minutes before half-time, Yeates put the visitors ahead with a stunning free kick after he was brought down by Curtis Davies outside the box.
The second half saw Steve Howard and Lloyd Dyer replace Martyn Waghorn and home debutant Darius Vassell; however, chances were few and far between for the home side, who looked somewhat deflated.
Paul Gallagher came close with another free kick, but Steve Simonsen was equal to it, just managing to tip the ball round the post for a corner.
With ten minutes remaining, Lloyd Dyer made a mazy run into the penalty area resulting in the ball falling at the feet of Steve Howard, whose shot from eighteen yards through a crowd of players was easily saved by Simonsen.
The defining point of the match came at the death when hero-turned-villain Mark Yeates handled the ball in the Blades’ penalty area in the second minute of stoppage time.
Steve Howard stepped up to blast the ball into the bottom corner from twelve yards for his fourth goal of the season, much to the jubilation – and relief – of the home fans.
In the final few seconds of the match, Kyle Naughton lashed the ball across the face of the goal with substitute Matty Fryatt in the penalty area, but was unable to pick him out.
The points were shared on the night, but Sheffield United manager Gary Speed will be frustrated to have not held on to win the game.
Meanwhile, Sven-Goran Eriksson knows his team must be more clinical in this weekend’s huge match at home to Derby County to earn bragging rights in the East Midlands.
Man of the Match – Mark Yeates
Sounds City got away with it.
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