Leicester squandered an opportunity to close the gap on the top six after being held to a 1-1 draw by local rivals Coventry City this afternoon at the Walkers Stadium.
Marlon King put the visitors ahead when his shot went through the hands of Leicester goalkeeper Ricardo, but full-back Kyle Naughton levelled for the Foxes on the stroke of half-time.
Martin Cranie was sent off late on for Coventry after receiving a second yellow card as both sides played out a disjointed second-half.
The result ended a run of four losses for the Sky Blues, while Leicester missed the chance to go level with sixth-placed Leeds – who were beaten 3-0 by Swansea earlier this afternoon.
Yakubu could have put Leicester ahead early on when he pounced onto a loose ball, but Coventry goalkeeper Kieren Westwood did well to close down the Nigerian before he was able to get a shot away.
The Everton loanee then saw another chance go begging when he was unable to turn Kyle Naughton’s low ball on target.
The visitors then struck a hammer blow in the eleventh minute when Lukas Jutkiewicz’s ball into the box found Marlon King, whose shot evaded the grasp of Ricardo and fell into the back of the net to put Coventry ahead.
The goal came against the run of play but certainly lifted the spirits of the away side as they became more of a threat to the Foxes.
King should have doubled Coventry’s lead shortly afterwards when he rounded Ricardo in the penalty area but his wild shot flew wide of the empty net.
Leicester’s positive play resulted in Patrick Van Aanholt breaking down the left wing and finding Paul Gallagher in the box – however the Scotsman’s side-footed volley flew over the bar.
At the other end, Ricardo made a fine save at the near post from Lukas Jutkiewicz’s shot and from the ensuing corner, Richard Keogh rattled the crossbar with a header.
Yuki Abe – who returned to the starting XI – struck wide from just outside the area, before Yakubu broke behind the Coventry backline and appeared to be tripped by Kieren Westwood when through in on goal; however, referee Graham Scott waved away any protest.
Westwood was on hand minutes later to prevent Yakubu at the near post with a good save with his legs as Leicester continued to build pressure on the Coventry defence.
The hosts were rewarded for their persistence on the stroke of half-time when Kyle Naughton cut into the box from the right wing before firing a wonderful strike on his left foot into the top corner of the goal.
It was the Tottenham loanee’s fourth goal of the season and a clear demonstration of his ability to find the net from the full-back position.
The second-half was one of few clear cut opportunities for both sides; however Leicester looked the more likely to clinch a winner through the positive play of Kyle Naughton who became more of an attacking outlet as the game progressed.
Just after the hour mark, Paul Gallagher’s free kick found Yakubu in the box whose header was well-saved by Westwood, and Sol Bamba’s follow-up strike crashed against the post from an acute angle.
The introduction of Lloyd Dyer with twenty minutes remaining created a good opportunity for the hosts when the speedy winger played a ball back to Patrick Van Aanholt in the penalty area – but the Dutchman blazed his shot over the bar.
Martin Cranie then received a second yellow card with two minutes remaining after a lumbering challenge on substitute Martyn Waghorn.
In injury time, Richard Keogh did well to clear the ball after Patrick Van Aanholt mounted one final attack down the left – but the final whistle meant that the points were shared in a scrappy M69 Derby.
Man of the Match – Kyle Naughton
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