First the good news for Leicester fans: Stephy Mavididi’s goal in the first half meant that Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side avoided matching Crystal Palace’s record of failing to score in nine straight Premier League defeats as they twice came from behind against Brighton to pick up their first point since the end of January.
Unfortunately for the Dutchman and his beleaguered players, it has surely only delayed the inevitable for another week. Two more wins for Wolves will confirm Leicester’s return to the Championship after a season to forget. But having twice fallen behind to penalties from João Pedro, it was the visiting supporters who came away smiling for a change as Caleb Okoli’s thumping header denied Brighton the victory they badly needed.
On an afternoon when the captain, Lewis Dunk, showed the years are finally catching up with him, Bilal El Khannouss almost won it late on for Leicester when he struck the post. It was another disappointing display from Fabian Hürzeler’s side as they continue to falter in their pursuit of European football next season as they left the pitch to boos from some sections of the ground.
Brighton could not have asked for better opponents as they attempted to get their season back on track after four games without a win. Had it not been for the 10 points they picked up under Steve Cooper at the start of the season, Leicester could have found themselves vying with Southampton to avoid becoming the worst Premier League team in history.
A dismal run of 15 defeats from their previous 16 games has meant that any hopes of repeating their great escape of 2015 when they took 22 points from a possible 27 under Nigel Pearson after being bottom at Christmas have long since dissipated. Mavididi’s early effort that was blocked by Carlos Baleba was greeted with ironic chants of “we’ve had a shot” from the travelling supporters.
They had a grandstand view behind Mads Hermansen’s goal as the hosts created a number of early chances through the wingers Simon Adingra – replacing the injured Kaoru Mitoma – and Yankuba Minteh, who somehow contrived to miss the target at the far post after Adingra’s floated cross. Mavididi should have made more of another sight of goal after a mistake from Dunk but there was something comical about the way Leicester fell behind minutes later.
Luke Thomas gets to grips with Brighton’s Matt O’Riley. Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images
An incisive move started by Baleba – who was filling in at centre-back in place of the suspended Jan Paul van Hecke – saw Pervis Estupiñán cut the ball back for Adingra just inside the area. His shot was heading towards the goal before Conor Coady instinctively stuck out a hand and his sheepish reaction said it all. Incredibly, the referee, Darren Bond, waved play on and it still needed a lengthy VAR check to award the penalty. João Pedro stroked home with ease but Brighton’s joy was short-lived.
Once again Dunk was at fault as he failed to control a pass and El Khannouss picked out Mavididi, who finished under Bart Verbruggen. Cue wild celebrations in the away end 76 days after El Khannouss scored the winner against Tottenham back in the depths of January.
João Pedro should have restored Brighton’s lead just before half-time but the Brazilian dragged his shot wide with the goal gaping before Matt O’Riley saw his strike come back off the post.
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Leicester again played a part in their own downfall at the start of the second half. O’Riley had just forced a good save from Hermansen when he tried to connect with Adingra’s cross and was hailed back by Luke Thomas by his shirt. Bond allowed play to continue but was forced to reverse his decision for the second time of the afternoon as João Pedro repeated the trick from the spot.
O’Riley has struggled to make a breakthrough after injuring his ankle within six minutes of his debut back in August and the Denmark midfielder set up Minteh for a golden opportunity to extend Brighton’s lead that once more went begging.
It almost proved costly when Mavididi played in the substitute Patson Daka around a statuesque Dunk but Verbruggen produced a strong save. Brighton survived when Kasey McAteer headed just wide yet there was to be no reprieve when Okoli arrived at the back post to head home a free-kick from El Khannouss.
