AdminLeicester City’s survival hopes suffered another damaging setback as two “ridiculous” moments denied them victory at Sheffield Wednesday, leaving Gary Rowett openly critical of his side’s defending and a contentious refereeing decision.
Facing an already relegated Wednesday side that had lost 16 of their previous 17 matches, City failed to capitalise, missing the chance to climb out of the bottom three.
Their task was made immediately harder as they conceded inside 90 seconds, Jerry Yates converting after the hosts showed greater aggression from a set-piece.
From there, it was largely one-way traffic. Leicester registered 24 attempts, 12 of them on target, but were repeatedly frustrated by Pierce Charles, who produced a string of fine saves.
The woodwork was struck more than once before Jordan Ayew eventually salvaged a point with a late equaliser.
There was also controversy, with strong appeals for a penalty waved away after Jannik Vestergaard appeared to be pulled down.
“It’s hugely frustrating,” Rowett said. “What you can’t do is give them a lift. And what we do is give them a lift after a minute and a half. It’s quite ridiculous to be honest.
“It was more or less the first time they put the ball in the box. They land on it, they score, they’re a bit more aggressive to get to the ball. I’ve said it before, that’s been a huge problem for us.
“Then it allows them to sit in at 5-4-1, it allows them to block it up, it allows them to be quite defensive but do it quite well.
“We’ve had most of the ball, we’ve had all of the chances. They have had one shot on target, we’ve had five or six incredible chances.
The keeper’s made four or five very good saves. We’ve hit the post, we’ve hit the bar, and I’d say we’re disappointed with how we’ve played. But we’ve done more than enough to win a game.
“We should have a penalty as well. It’s a clear penalty. It’s quite ridiculous. Jannik Vestergaard gets dragged down in the box.
The shirt is in the player’s hand. He’s pulled it about a foot away from his body. I don’t understand why that’s not a penalty.
“I’m disappointed. We kept going. Sometimes we rushed things. Sometimes we showed patience and when we were patient we created good opportunities.
“When we rushed things, it looked a bit frantic and you could see a side too desperate to get back into the game straight away.
“I’m disappointed we’ve not won the game and that’s the overriding feeling.”
With the other sides around them also drawing, Leicester remain just one point from safety with five matches left to play.
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