Everton failed to build on their impressive Europa League win in Switzerland on Thursday as bottom-of-the-table Leicester City managed a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park in the Premier League this afternoon.
Three days after winning 4-1 away at Young Boys, Everton extended their winless streak at home in the league to five games as Leicester closed to within four points of safety.
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Neither side created much in the opening half, with the only two shots on target coming in the early stages as Jeffrey Schlupp and Muhamed Besic were easily kept out by Tim Howard and Mark Schwarzer respectively.
In the 26th minute Romelu Lukaku, who scored a European hat-trick on Thursday against Young Boys, could have put Everton in front, but skied his shot from Seamus Coleman's cutback.
Andrej Kramaric curled over moments later down the other end before Ross Barkley and Schlupp wasted half-chances from inside the respective areas.
Leicester should have gone in front inside the first two minutes of the second half, but Schlupp dragged his shot wide after Howard had parried Matty James's shot straight to him.
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Despite starting the second half brightly, Leicester fell behind in the 57th minute when Steven Naismith's scruffy shot trickled in at the near post.
Leicester were not deflated and equalised soon after when substitutes Jamie Vardy and David Nugent combined just a minute after coming on, with Nugent bundling home after Vardy's cross had been palmed out by Howard.
Lukaku should have put Everton back in front with a one-on-one chance which he lifted over before Leicester went in front through Esteban Cambiasso, who turned home Vardy's pullback after another iffy moment for Howard.
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Everton pushed and pushed for an equaliser, but Lukaku did not appear to have his shooting boots on until the 88th minute.
Christian Atsu's cross seemed to have been powerfully headed home by the Belgian, but replays show that his flick was heading wide until it hit Matthew Upson and flew into the net.
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Both sides had chances to win it in stoppage time, but it ended up being the 13th draw in 18 Premier League meetings between the Toffees and the Foxes.
Leicester end their four-match losing streak, but remain four points adrift of safety, 10 behind Everton, who have now won just one of their last 10 Premier League games.
Pascal Lemesre
