Match ends, Leicester City 1, West Bromwich Albion 1.
Leicester City boss Craig Shakespeare said giving Riyad Mahrez a "kick up the backside" had paid off as the Algerian's first goal of the season rescued a point against West Bromwich Albion.
Nacer Chadli's sublime free-kick - West Brom's only shot on target - looked set to earn the Baggies a hard-earned win in a game short on quality.
But Mahrez, who had wasted a great chance when the game was goalless, marked his return to the side after being dropped against Bournemouth by tucking home 10 minutes from time.
"I left him out against Bournemouth, gave him a kick up the backside, and he was excellent in training," said Shakespeare, whose side remain in the relegation zone and without a win in six Premier League games.
"You want the response and the right response."
Mahrez's goal is the third time this season West Brom have conceded an equaliser in the final 15 minutes of a league match.
"When we scored, I felt we became more comfortable but every game in this league is tough," said Baggies boss Tony Pulis.
"Unless you are right on it you are not going to get what you deserve."
The last time Leicester went six league matches without a victory, Claudio Ranieri was sacked as manager.
Where is Leicester's next win coming from?
The Foxes are two points from a position of safety and have taken just three points from their six matches since beating Brighton 2-0 on 19 August.
They created the better chances in a desperately poor game at the King Power Stadium and, even with Mahrez's late goal, it was another lacklustre performance.
The Foxes have won just once in their past 11 league games under Shakespeare, whose decision to drop Shinji Okazaki for Kelechi Iheanacho failed to ignite the side.
The £25m summer signing from Manchester City was underwhelming in his second league start for the club, touching the ball just 12 times in the opening 45 minutes - all outside the Baggies' penalty area.
West Brom were without England keeper Ben Foster, who injured a knee while playing with his son at home.
Boaz Myhill was drafted in for his first Premier League start for 18 months yet Leicester put little pressure on him - there were no passes between Iheanacho and strike partner Jamie Vardy in the first half, and the former was replaced with 15 minutes to go by Slimani.
The Algerian's introduction proved pivotal, as he teed up compatriot Mahrez for his goal.
West Brom's annoying habit
West Brom appeared to come with the intention of frustrating their hosts - and came close to carrying out their gameplan to perfection.
But Pulis will be concerned at the annoying habit his side have developed of turning victories into draws.
They dropped two points at home to Stoke on 27 August when Peter Crouch was allowed to equalise in the 77th minute, and Richarlison secured a point for Watford with a 90th-minute goal at The Hawthorns on 30 September.
Had they held out against Stoke, Watford and Leicester, West Brom would be fourth in the table on 16 points.
Instead, they are 10th on 10 points.
Man of the match - Harry Maguire (Leicester City)
'We deserved the equaliser' - the managers
Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare:
"When you have as much possession as we did and then go a goal down you are always worried how it affects the players.
"But we showed the spirit we have and the resilience and we deserved a goal."
West Brom manager Tony Pulis:
"Our quality is better than what we showed at times, but you can't fault their effort, commitment and the way they defend by putting their bodies in the way.
"We're disappointed, obviously, but every game is a tough game in this league."
Set-piece specialists - the stats
- West Brom have scored 47 set-piece goals (excluding penalties) in the Premier League since Tony Pulis took charge in January 2015 - more than any other side.
- Leicester have picked up just six points from their first eight Premier League games this season, their lowest haul at this stage since 2003-04.
- Mahrez scored his first Premier League goal since netting against Watford back in May.
- West Brom have won just twice in their past 17 Premier League games (D6 L9), after winning eight of the 17 before that.
- Nacer Chadli netted his first goal since scoring against West Ham on 11 February 11 2017.
What's next?
Both sides are back in action on Saturday. After Leicester seek a much-needed win at Swansea City (15:00 BST), West Brom are at Southampton (17:30 BST).
Line-ups
Leicester
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Schmeichel
- 2SimpsonSubstituted forChilwellat 74'minutes
- 5Morgan
- 15Maguire
- 28Fuchs
- 26Mahrez
- 21IborraSubstituted forKingat 90+4'minutes
- 25Ndidi
- 11AlbrightonBooked at 68mins
- 8IheanachoBooked at 62minsSubstituted forSlimaniat 74'minutes
- 9Vardy
Substitutes
- 3Chilwell
- 7Gray
- 10King
- 12Hamer
- 18Amartey
- 19Slimani
- 20Okazaki
West Brom
Formation 4-3-3
- 13MyhillBooked at 47mins
- 25Dawson
- 26HegaziBooked at 8mins
- 6Evans
- 3Gibbs
- 8Livermore
- 20Krychowiak
- 18Barry
- 19RodriguezSubstituted forMcCleanat 84'minutes
- 9Rondón
- 22ChadliSubstituted forMcAuleyat 84'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Nyom
- 5Yacob
- 10Phillips
- 11Brunt
- 14McClean
- 23McAuley
- 40Palmer
- Referee:
- Mike Dean
- Attendance:
- 30,203
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home57%
- Away43%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away5
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away1
- Corners
- Home4
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away6
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Leicester City 1, West Bromwich Albion 1.
Substitution
Substitution, Leicester City. Andy King replaces Vicente Iborra.
Post update
Foul by Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City).
Post update
Gareth Barry (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt blocked. James McClean (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Gareth Barry.
Post update
Foul by Christian Fuchs (Leicester City).
Post update
James McClean (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. James McClean replaces Jay Rodriguez.
Substitution
Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Gareth McAuley replaces Nacer Chadli.
Post update
Ben Chilwell (Leicester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Craig Dawson (West Bromwich Albion).
Post update
Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Boaz Myhill.
Post update
Attempt saved. Harry Maguire (Leicester City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Ben Chilwell.
Goal!
Goal! Leicester City 1, West Bromwich Albion 1. Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Islam Slimani with a headed pass.
Post update
Attempt missed. Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Harry Maguire.
Substitution
Substitution, Leicester City. Ben Chilwell replaces Danny Simpson.
Substitution
Substitution, Leicester City. Islam Slimani replaces Kelechi Iheanacho.
Post update
Foul by Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City).
Post update
Salomón Rondón (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Comments
Join the conversation
Do you still stand by that?
If even the most expensive squad in the world - Man U - play that way then it's unfair to single out Leicester and West Brom for doing the same. That said, what a dour match!
Not only does it harm the quality of matches it also largely reduces the likelihood of youth players being given an opportunity.
Football teams should be trying to beat one another, that would be exciting!
Now they are paying the price of their treachery
They will not go down but the heady days are over. Its tedium and boring from now on
For those half-wits who thought Ranieri played little part in Leicester winning the league just look at all the 1-0 wins they had and see the similarity with how he has set-up Nantes defensively
To expect more from the game .. ! I expected more loyalty from Leicester last season but they sacked Ranieri :(
So you listened to something that bored you rigid for an hour?
And then you put a CD on you don't like?
And you're having a go at other people?
Can you honestly say that Leicester City versus West Brom is a big Premier League game.
I think you’ve missed my point there pal. I was comparing this match to that of the so called big games between the big clubs i.e. the Utd v Liv example, and that you can’t expect Lcfc v WBA to be interesting if the big guns can’t even provide us with an entertaining match! No?