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Crystal Palace logo
Premier League
Apr 15, 2017 at 3pm UK
 
Leicester logo

2-2

Cabaye (55'), Benteke (70')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Huth (6'), Vardy (53')

Live Commentary: Crystal Palace 2-2 Leicester City - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's text coverage of Saturday's Premier League clash between Crystal Palace and Leicester City at Selhurst Park, which finished as a 2-2 draw.
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Crystal Palace have fought back from two goals down to claim a valuable 2-2 draw in Saturday's Premier League meeting with Leicester City at Selhurst Park.

The Foxes took the lead six minutes in when Robert Huth made the most of a powerful Christian Fuchs throw and a napping Eagles defence to nod home.

Jamie Vardy then doubled the visitors' lead in the 52nd minute, but Yohan Cabaye halved the deficit for the hosts just two minutes later.

Christian Benteke then completed the hosts' comeback on 70 minutes, putting them seven points clear of the bottom three and just two behind Leicester.

Here is how Sports Mole covered the action at Selhurst Park.


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Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League clash between Crystal Palace and Leicester City.

The two teams facing off today at Selhurst Park are proof that changes in the dugout are sometimes a very good call - both replaced their managers in the last few months, and both have never looked back.

The Eagles sacked Alan Pardew and brought in Sam Allardyce just before Christmas last year, while the Foxes were effectively deemed guilty of regicide by axing Claudio Ranieri and bringing in Craig Shakespeare, but going into today's match, both sides have won five of their last six league games to render themselves all but safe this season.

As it stands, Palace are 16th in the table, six points clear of 18th-placed Swansea City (who have played one game more than the Eagles), while Leicester are within touching distance of the top ten, sitting 11th and eight points clear of the bottom three.

Without further ado, let's bring you the team news from Selhurst Park.

CRYSTAL PALACE STARTING XI: Hennessey, Ward, Kelly, Sakho, Schlupp, Milivojevic, Cabaye, Puncheon, Zaha, Townsend, Benteke

LEICESTER STARTING XI: Schmeichel, Simpson, Benalouane, Huth, Fuchs, Mahrez, Ndidi, King, Albrighton, Ulloa, Vardy

PALACE SUBS: Speroni, Van Aanholt, Delaney, McArthur, Flamini, Sako, Campbell

LEICESTER SUBS: Zieler, Chilwell, Drinkwater, Musa, Amartey, Okazaki, Gray

Sam Allardyce has not seen fit to make any changes from Palace's astounding 3-0 win over Arsenal on Monday, so it's as you were for the Eagles today. That means Andros Townsend is fit to start and plays up alongside Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke in attack, while Patrick van Aanholt has returned to the Palace bench after recovering from an ankle injury.

There were reports of Craig Shakespeare potentially opting to rotate his squad for this game, which is sandwiched between the two Champions League quarter-final games against Atletico Madrid, but he has made just two changes today - Danny Drinkwater and Shinji Okazaki are replaced by Andy King and Leonardo Ulloa in the starting XI.

Captain Wes Morgan misses out once again with injury but Leicester hope to have him back in midweek as they bid to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit against Diego Simeone's boys.

Here is what Allardyce has had to say ahead of today's encounter: "We need to focus on the game this weekend and make sure we don't get wrapped up in all the talk of us being safe, because we are not. The aim will be to try and secure another three points but we are playing a team in exceptionally good form like ourselves and this will be just as difficult a game as we faced against Arsenal on Monday night, if not more."

Meanwhile, this is Shakespeare's take on today's fixture: "We need to be competitive against a real competitive Palace team. I'm thinking that we still need the points. None of us are safe. We need to concentrate on Palace and try to get those points. It'll be a really tough challenge. You could see on Monday their confidence."

Shakespeare has also confirmed that Islam Slimani picked up an injury in training on Friday, but did not specify an estimated return time. Everyone connected with the club will be particularly anxious over the state of the players today and going into Tuesday's crunch European clash - could fatigue become an issue?

HEAD TO HEAD: Over the years, these two sides have faced off 66 times, with Leicester claiming 26 wins, Palace winning 23, and 17 draws taking place.

After winning just one of their first six Premier League games against Crystal Palace, Leicester have won three matches in a row against them, their best run in all competitive meetings since 1925 - but have never won four in a row.

Palace have alternated between victory and defeat in their four home Premier League games against Leicester, keeping a clean sheet in each win and failing to score in each defeat.

Sam Allardyce has won his last two home games against reigning Premier League champions as a manager, beating Manchester City with West Ham United in 2014-15 and beating Chelsea with Sunderland in 2015-16.

Both Palace and Leicester have won 15 of a possible 18 points in their last six Premier League games - the only side to have won more points in their last six PL matches are Spurs with a perfect 18.

Palace have won five of their last six league games, having previously taken 26 matches to record as many wins, and have kept four clean sheets during those six matches - twice as many as in the 30 fixtures prior to that over the last year.

Leicester's only Premier League away win this season came at West Ham on 18 March - Burnley and Hull are the only sides to earn fewer away points than Leicester's tally of six. The Foxes have also kept just one clean sheet in their 15 away fixtures.

SCORE PREDICTION: With just 10 minutes until kickoff, it's time for me to predict the result at Selhurst Park. And unfortunately for Leicester fans I can only see one winner here. Palace only have the league to concentrate on, are playing at home, in great form, and will be buzzing from their win over Arsenal. Meanwhile the Foxes have lost their last two in all competitions, have not been great away from home, and will have an eye on the Atletico Madrid return leg. I can still see it being tight though, so I'm going to go for a 2-1 win to Palace.

Leonardo Ulloa is making just his second Premier League start of the campaign today - he last played 90 minutes in the goalless draw at Middlesbrough.

Both sets of players have emerged from the tunnel and onto the Selhurst Park turf.

KICKOFF! Palace, in red and blue, get the game underway, attacking left to right, while Leicester are in all-white. Mike Dean is the man in the middle.

Leicester quickest out of the starting blocks as Mahrez tries to play in Simpson, who in turn forces a throw-in by the byline, but Palace hold firm to get the ball cleared.

Cabaye looks to spring a counter for the hosts as he releases Zaha down the right, but Ndidi reads the pass well and Leicester regain possession.

Townsend crosses into the Leicester box and looks dangerous but Huth does well to head away from danger with Benteke lurking.

GOAL! PALACE 0-1 LEICESTER (ROBERT HUTH)

An early goal at Selhurst Park and it goes the way of the visitors as Palace are punished for sloppy defending. Albrighton wins a throw-in deep in the hosts' half, Fuchs launches the ball into the box, and Huth gets above Ward to flick his header past Hennessey. Too easy for the Foxes, and Allardyce does not look impressed in the dugout.

Palace look to draw level as Cabaye nearly finds Benteke at the back post but Simpson does enough to put the striker off and the ball goes out for a Leicester goal kick.

CHANCE! Palace step up their attacks and come close as Hennessey lofts a free kick deep into Leicester territory and Benteke's header sets off a pinball in the box before Zaha tries to volley home, but Huth is there to block the effort!

Puncheon is penalised for handball inside the hosts' half, Albrighton sends the free kick into the box and Sakho puts it behind for a corner, but the whistle then blows against Huth after he jostled with Benteke during the set piece, and Palace are let off.

CHANCE! Palace getting closer to that equaliser as Ward crosses to the far post and Benteke manages to get past Simpson and connect with the ball, but Schmeichel is quick off his line to make a block and Huth and King combine to keep the rebound off the line!

Leicester are beginning to look a bit shaky at the back, with Palace boasting all the momentum and looking to make up for their earlier lapse at the back.

CHANCE! There's that shakiness right there from Leicester - Huth tries to clear but fires the ball into King before it loops up in the box, Zaha bears down on goal and challenges Schmeichel, who fails to claim, but the ref blows for a foul!

Palace continue to be on top as Zaha and Townsend combine to tee up Puncheon from range, but his 25-yard effort gets charged down on the edge of the box.

The game has now settled, with little of note to report. Palace continue to have a lot of possession but are unable to break down a resolute Leicester defence.

CHANCE! Another effort for Palace, this time from the foot of Townsend, who sees a long-range effort dragged wide of Schmeichel's right-hand post.

Zaha finds Benteke on the turn in the area, but Benalouane gets in the way to prevent the Palace striker from pulling off a shot, forcing a corner. The hosts pile on the pressure win another one shortly after, but Leicester continue to hold firm.

BOOKING: First caution of the day goes to Simpson for a cynical foul on Zaha, flattening the winger on the halfway line as he looked to catch up to a ball over the top. "Taking one for the team", some may call it.

CHANCE! Simpson redeems himself somewhat with a good, clean tackle on Zaha, but then un-redeems himself by immediately losing possession as Palace bomb forward and send a cross into the box, which Fuchs half-clears, before Milivojevic comes forward to blaze a shot over the bar.

CHANCE! Palace come forward once again as a deep cross finds Zaha at the back post, but the former Manchester United man can't get his feet sorted out in time and he skews his effort high and wide.

Ward releases Townsend, who looks to get the better of Huth, but the Leicester centre-half does well to force him to the outside, before sliding in to block his eventual effort and put it behind for a corner, one of two in a row which come to nothing.



One minute of stoppage time here at Selhurst Park.

HALF TIME: PALACE 0-1 LEICESTER

That's the half-time whistle and it's advantage Leicester, who have made the most of the opportunity given to them by Crystal Palace to lead 1-0 at Selhurst Park.

Robert Huth made the most of a napping defence to get his head onto a Christian Fuchs long throw and nod past Wayne Hennessey just six minutes into the game, before the Foxes tightened up their defence (and rode their luck once or twice) to keep the Eagles at bay for the remainder of the opening 45.

Palace have dominated possession and carved out one or two opportunities, with Christian Benteke impressing in the air, but they have nothing to show for it at the halfway point of the game. Sam Allardyce has not looked particularly impressed on the touchline, so it'll be interesting to know what he'll be telling (yelling?) his charges in the changing room.

The stats read as follows - eight effort for Palace, one on target, 187 completed passes, 63 percent possession, and five corners, while Leicester stand at just the one effort (the goal), 86 completed passes, 37 percent possession, and one corner. But they're ahead in the one statistic that counts.

As it stands, Leicester sit 11th with 39 points from 32 games (11 clear of the bottom three), while Palace may need to start watching over their shoulder again, in 16th and six points clear with six games to go. Will it stay this way come the final whistle, or are there more twists and turns coming up? Sports Mole is on hand to bring you all the action as it comes!

KICKOFF: Leicester get the second half underway.

First action of note in the second period is Albrighton searching for the head of a teammate in the box, but making a hash of his cross.

CHANCE! Leicester continue to have the upper hand in the second half as a free kick is worked to Vardy, who plays the ball to Mahrez on the edge of the Palace box, the Algerian cuts inside but bends a shot just wide!

Yet more attacking intent from Leicester as Albrighton flicks in a cross towards Ulloa, but Kelly does well to cut out the danger.

GOAL! PALACE 0-2 LEICESTER (JAMIE VARDY)

GOAL! PALACE 1-2 LEICESTER (YOHAN CABAYE)

Two goals in quick succession at Selhurst Park as Leicester appear to kill off the game, only for Palace to halve the deficit almost instantly! The first goal came through a swift Leicester counterattack triggered by Huth, who found Mahrez, who in turn set off Vardy, and the England striker turned former colleague Schlupp inside out before bending an effort in at the far post!

But just a minute later, Palace had a goal back as Schlupp found space on the left-hand side and went for goal, the effort was deflected into the path of Cabaye, and the midfielder made the most of a not-yet-ready Leicester defence to power a first-time effort beyond Schmeichel! Game on!

CHANCES! The game has exploded into action as Zaha rifles over from a tight angle after good hold-up play by Benteke, and a minute later the winger is at it again, skinning both King and Simpson before drilling a low cross into the six-yard box, where the impenetrable Huth is on hand to hack clear for a throw-in.

Now here come Leicester, Mahrez threading a pinpoint pass down the right for Vardy to run onto and square across the area, but Ward gets control of the ball, though he has to sloppily hack clear for a throw-in as he is pressured by the opposition attackers.

BOOKING: King brings down Townsend on the left and is shown a yellow for his troubles.

SUBSTITUTION: Leicester make their first change of the night and it's King who comes off, replaced by Drinkwater.

CHANCE! Another Fuchs throw-in causes havoc in the Palace box as Ward almost heads into his own net at the near post, but luckily for him it's a corner, which is cleared by Cabaye.

Mahrez cuts inside onto his left again and forces a corner as his shot is blocked, Benteke clears from the set piece though and Palace aim to break.

SUBSTITUTION: Palace make their first change of the afternoon as Van Aanholt makes his much-awaited return from injury, replacing Schlupp.

GOAL! PALACE 2-2 LEICESTER (CHRISTIAN BENTEKE)

From two goals down, Palace are now level against the incumbent champions, and it's Benteke who fires in the equaliser! Townsend whips a cross in and the Belgian marksman muscles above Benalouane to head past Schmeichel just inside the post!

CHANCE! Schmeichel bails out Leicester with a big, big save! Benteke once again gets the better of Benalouane, beating the centre-half to his left and getting a shot in, but the Danish keeper makes himself big to keep the ball out from six yards!

CHANCE! Fuchs's throw-ins are clearly a tactic Palace cannot deal with, as the Austrian launches another ball into the box, which Ward tries to clear but succeeds only in getting it to Ulloa, who half-volleys wide of the post!

SUBSTITUTION: Second change for Leicester as Mahrez is replaced by Gray on the flank.

SUBSTITUTION: Benalouane goes down with cramp and can't continue today, so Chilwell takes his place.

Ten minutes left here in South London and you can't help but feel there's plenty left in this game as both teams continue to attack and try to get those all-important three points which would be so crucial in their battle against the drop.

PENALTY SHOUT! Van Aanholt powers down the left and whips a cross in, which Huth blocks, and there are shouts for a spot kick, the ball seemingly hit his arm (it didn't look like it on the replay to be fair), but Dean waves play on!

Simpson goes to ground and there are concerned looks in the Leicester dugout, though he does eventually manage to get up and seems like he wants to see the game out, though he's limping.

SUBSTITUTION: Palace's second change sees the arrival of McArthur, with Zaha giving way.

Puncheon strides into the Leicester area and looks for the shot, but Huth once again gets in the way and clears, setting up a counter-attack in the process which culminates in a throw in Fuchs territory, but this time it doesn't go far as Benteke gets it clear.

Into the final minutes and the action shows no signs of letting up, both sides eager to try and find a winner. It's end to end stuff - will there be stoppage-time drama? Four minutes of added time are announced.

Leicester win a free kick deep in Palace territory but Fuchs overhits his delivery and Hennessey collects with ease.

CHANCE! Drinkwater has a superb chance to win the game as the ball falls to him from a poor Van Aanholt clearance, but he smashes the ball wide of the post!

FULL TIME: PALACE 2-2 LEICESTER

Full time at Selhurst Park and it's honours even, but Palace will be the happier of the two sides as they came back from two goals down to draw level in a 2-2 draw.

Robert Huth opened the scoring with a header in the sixth minute before Jamie Vardy doubled the lead not long after the restart, but Yohan Cabaye halved the deficit in the 53rd and Christian Benteke fired the equaliser 70 minutes in.

That's all we have time for here but don't go anywhere - Sports Mole is on hand to bring you match reports, reaction and all the latest news from the day's football! Thank you for following and, until next time, goodbye!

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