MX23RW : Monday, December 23 01:13:00| >> :120:7889:7889:
[monks data]
Attendance: 22,881
Fulham logo
Premier League | Gameweek 15
Dec 5, 2018 at 7.45pm UK
 
Leicester logo

1-1

Kamara (42')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Maddison (74')

Claudio Ranieri and Fulham denied by Leicester leveller

Claudio Ranieri and Fulham denied by Leicester leveller
© Reuters
The Italian was sacked by the Foxes in February 2017.

Claudio Ranieri was denied a memorable victory over Leicester when his former team recovered from a goal down to secure a 1-1 draw at Fulham.

The manager had been out of the Premier League for approaching two years since his sacking by Leicester, who he remarkably inspired to the title in 2016, when last month Fulham recruited him to lead them to safety following a troubled start to the season.

His influence has already been felt and he was on course to take them out of the relegation zone when Aboubakar Kamara gave the hosts a first-half lead.

The classy James Maddison then scored during the second half, 16 minutes from time, as both teams wasted further chances, instead keeping Fulham bottom of the league.

It was in only the third minute when Maddison and Kelechi Iheanacho, two players to have arrived at Leicester since Ranieri's departure, combined for their first sight on goal.

When the midfielder's through-ball sent Ihenacho through on Sergio Rico he had a fine chance to give them the lead, but where the injured Jamie Vardy — who he had replaced — would likely have finished he instead shot straight at the goalkeeper, who comfortably saved.

James Maddison levelled for Leicester
James Maddison levelled for Leicester (Steven Paston/PA)

Tom Cairney's absence from Fulham's starting XI also felt significant but the way in which the hosts responded by also creating chances ultimately justified his selection as a substitute.

Aleksandar Mitrovic was denied from the first of several that came before half-time when Kasper Schmeichel saved his close-range shot towards the bottom left corner, and then defender-turned-midfielder Calum Chambers also became a threat.

From a free-kick from midfield Jean-Michael Seri crossed towards Denis Odoi, and when his header fell kindly to Chambers who struck powerfully and accurately at goal, Schmeichel again responded, this time producing a superb reaction save.

Aboubakar Kamara celebrates his opening goal for Fulham
Aboubakar Kamara celebrates his opening goal for Fulham (Steven Paston/PA)

Two of Ranieri's title winners then had their turn, first when Marc Albrighton shot over the crossbar and then when Wes Morgan forced a fine diving save from Rico, after Maddison had played a short corner to Albrighton and the winger had crossed towards the back post.

A competitive and open affair appeared increasingly likely to imminently witness its opening goal, and so it proved when in the 42nd minute Kamara gave Fulham the lead.

Luciano Vietto had also gone close when, with Leicester struggling to deal with a long ball, Mitrovic flicked on to Kamara, who eased ahead of Caglar Soyuncu into the area before cutting inside the defender onto his right foot and finishing between Schmeichel's feet.

Both teams continued to create chances during the second half, and Cairney went close for Fulham before, in the 74th minute, two other substitutes combined to bring Leicester level.

Shinji Okazaki and Demarai Gray exchanged passes down the right wing to split the hosts' defence before the former then laid back, inside the area, in front of Maddison, who calmly strolled onto the loose ball to curl first time towards the bottom left corner.

After Cairney again tested Schmeichel, Gray and Maddison forced a double save from Rico in stoppage time, which concluded with Odoi scooping over with time and space directly in front of goal.

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Declan Warrington, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', 'b5fc2fc2-dc4a-4714-9fb6-1651870215ed');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:match-reports,paservice:sport:uk,paservice:sport:world');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Claudio Ranieri and Fulham denied by Leicester leveller'});

ID:343459: cacheID:343459:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:10204:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Emiliano Sala in action for Nantes in November 2017
Read Next:
Fulham, Palace join race for Sala?
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool16123137162139
2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!