Yakubu’s second-half equaliser earned Leicester City an away point in a lacklustre encounter against Doncaster Rovers at the Keepmoat Stadium.
Steve Brooker scored for the home side within five minutes of being substituted on in the second-half.
Yakubu levelled for the Foxes with fifteen minutes remaining but his tenth goal of the season was not enough to prevent Leicester from being mathematically eliminated from the playoff race.
Doncaster, on the other hand, picked up the required point to cement their Championship status for next season.
It was a game of very few clear cut chances in which Leicester were arguably the better side in the first-half - and the away side thought that they had taken the lead early on, but Darius Vassell’s early goal was ruled out after it was adjudged to have been offside following a piercing through ball by Andy King.
Paul Gallagher then fired wide after a powerful run by Darius Vassell, while Ryan Mason fired high and wide for the home side at the other end.
Leicester began to grow into the game but were continually thwarted by Doncaster’s dogged defending, although the Foxes did come close when Richie Wellens’ ball over the top to Andy King forced George Friend to make a great block and prevent a goal scoring opportunity.
James Coppinger then fired wildly over the bar for Doncaster before Darius Vassell had a penalty shout waved away by referee Darren Deadman after the former England striker was appeared to be fouled in the area.
Paul Gallagher was next to test Neil Sullivan with a good free kick on target before Doncaster enjoyed a decent spell of possession at the end of the half, but tempting crosses by Ryan Mason and Jason Hayter lacked the vital final touch inside the penalty area to put the home side ahead.
Doncaster began the second-half as they ended the first and were soon ahead through substituted Steve Brooker who latched on to Neil Sullivan’s long ball before firing a 25 yard volley past the helpless Chris Weale.
It was most definitely a route one goal which was typical of Doncaster’s style of play during the first-half, having adopted mostly a 4-5-1 formation throughout the match.
The goal sparked Leicester into life and the visitors should have been level on the hour mark when Richie Wellens flicked on Yakubu’s header to Diomansy Kamara in the penalty area, but the Senegalese international fired high over the bar from six yards out.
Leicester eventually found their equaliser after 76 minutes when Darius Vassell found Steve Howard on the edge of the penalty area who did well to feed the ball through to Yakubu inside the box who then fired the ball past Neil Sullivan to bring the Foxes level.
It was a deserved leveller for Sven-Goran Eriksson’s men and a milestone goal for Yakubu, who has now netted ten goals in nineteen appearances since joining the Foxes on loan from Everton at the start of the year.
Both sides searched for a winner as the minutes wound down and it was Doncaster who came closest when Chris Weale tipped Ryan Mason’s volley over the bar.
The final whistle blew after three minutes of stoppage time, meaning that Doncaster’s Championship status was secure for another year – but also that Leicester’s miniscule playoff hopes were officially over.
Man of the Match – Ryan Mason
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