Leicester City 2-2 Brentford: Battling Bees come from 2-0 behind to earn point
Brentford produced a terrific fightback from 2-0 behind to secure a point against Leicester in a thrilling match at the King Power Stadium.
A header by Belgium defender Timothy Castagne opened the scoring for the Foxes, the only Premier League club not to have signed a player in the summer transfer window so far.
Leicester were the dominant side in the first half with Youri Tielemans hitting the post before Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall doubled the lead 25 seconds into the second half.
Brentford hit back when Ivan Toney scored from close range after a move that started when Leicester lost possession from a throw-in.
Toney wasted a great chance to equalise when he headed wide after Leicester’s Wesley Fofana nodded against the post at the other end.
But Brentford were not done as substitute Josh Dasilva struck an 86th-minute equaliser after cutting inside on to his left foot, starting the Bees’ second successive season in the top flight with a point.
Leicester let two points slip
There is so much talent running through this Leicester team but there have been suggestions that momentum could be waning after a dormant summer in the transfer market so far.
The Foxes have not spent a penny but have lost a legend after Kasper Schmeichel – their Premier League and FA Cup winning keeper – joined Nice, while Newcastle target James Maddison and Chelsea target Fofana are wanted elsewhere.
The way Leicester gave up a 2-0 lead will only increase calls for Brendan Rodgers, who has been linked with a loan move for Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, to strengthen his squad before the 1 September deadline.
They looked certain to make a winning start after Dewsbury-Hall’s super finish added to Castagne’s opening goal.
Leicester started with a real flourish but by the end they were fortunate not to lose as Brentford came back strongly in the second half.
The concern for Rodgers is that this was a real opportunity to make a solid start.
But it will feel like two points dropped, with matches to follow against Arsenal (away), Chelsea (away) and Manchester United (home) between now and 1 September.
Bees show fighting spirit
Brentford finished last season – their first in England’s top flight since 1946-47 – in 13th spot, aided largely by the signing of Christian Eriksen.
His departure has left a large void but Brentford are clearly not lacking confidence or belief judging by this performance.
They started last season with a statement win over Arsenal and the way they came back to secure a point against an experienced Leicester side will give Thomas Frank and his players a lift going into the rest of the campaign.
There were contrasting fortunes for two of Brentford’s debutants in the starting line-up.
While Ben Mee was at fault for the second goal and replaced in the 59th minute, 20-year-old Aaron Hickey – a £17m signing from Bologna – produced a performance to suggest he could be another shrewd signing for the Bees.
Frank celebrated with Dasilva on the pitch in front of the travelling fans after the final whistle, the Bees having prepared for next Saturday’s visit of Manchester United and Eriksen with a spirited performance.
Player of the match
HickeyAaron Hickey
Leicester City
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Squad number22Player nameDewsbury-Hall
Average rating6.71
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Squad number27Player nameCastagne
Average rating6.60
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Squad number10Player nameMaddison
Average rating6.59
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Squad number8Player nameTielemans
Average rating6.48
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Squad number3Player nameFofana
Average rating6.48
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Squad number1Player nameWard
Average rating6.35
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Squad number2Player nameJustin
Average rating6.34
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Squad number6Player nameEvans
Average rating6.25
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Squad number25Player nameNdidi
Average rating6.19
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Squad number9Player nameVardy
Average rating5.97
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Squad number18Player nameAmartey
Average rating5.90
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Squad number20Player nameDaka
Average rating5.21
Brentford
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Squad number2Player nameHickey
Average rating7.64
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Squad number29Player nameBech Sørensen
Average rating7.49
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Squad number10Player nameDasilva
Average rating7.49
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Squad number21Player nameDervisoglu
Average rating7.47
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Squad number23Player nameLewis-Potter
Average rating7.40
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Squad number26Player nameBaptiste
Average rating7.24
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Squad number17Player nameToney
Average rating7.22
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Squad number3Player nameHenry
Average rating6.87
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Squad number6Player nameNørgaard
Average rating6.86
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Squad number1Player nameRaya
Average rating6.75
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Squad number19Player nameMbeumo
Average rating6.71
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Squad number8Player nameJensen
Average rating6.65
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Squad number11Player nameWissa
Average rating6.60
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Squad number27Player nameJanelt
Average rating6.56
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Squad number16Player nameMee
Average rating6.44
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Squad number18Player nameJansson
Average rating6.04
Line-ups
Leicester
Formation 3-5-1-1
- 1Ward
- 3Fofana
- 6Evans
- 18Amartey
- 27Castagne
- 22Dewsbury-HallSubstituted forDakaat 73′minutes
- 25Ndidi
- 8Tielemans
- 2Justin
- 10Maddison
- 9Vardy
Substitutes
- 4Söyüncü
- 11Albrighton
- 14Iheanacho
- 17Pérez
- 20Daka
- 24Mendy
- 26Praet
- 31Iversen
- 33Thomas
Brentford
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Raya
- 2HickeySubstituted forBech Sørensenat 84′minutes
- 18Jansson
- 16MeeSubstituted forLewis-Potterat 59′minutes
- 3Henry
- 27Janelt
- 6NørgaardSubstituted forBaptisteat 73′minutes
- 8JensenSubstituted forDasilvaat 59′minutes
- 19Mbeumo
- 17Toney
- 11WissaSubstituted forDervisogluat 84′minutes
Substitutes
- 10Dasilva
- 15Onyeka
- 21Dervisoglu
- 22Strakosha
- 23Lewis-Potter
- 26Baptiste
- 29Bech Sørensen
- 30Roerslev
- 33Stevens
- Referee:
- Jarred Gillett
- Attendance:
- 31,794
Match Stats
Live Text
Match ends, Leicester City 2, Brentford 2.