Last-Gasp Barnes Strike Seals A Point In London
In glorious late spring sunshine at London Stadium, City were forced to twice fight back from behind to register their 48th point of the Premier League season.
An emphatic header from Michail Antonio handed the Hammers a narrow lead at the interval before Jamie Vardy’s 16th goal of the season restored parity on the scoresheet.
While a close-range effort from substitute Lucas Pérez put West Ham back in front with eight minutes of normal time to play, Barnes pounced in added time to spark ecstatic celebrations.
Leicester’s line-up featured just two changes from a defeat by Newcastle United last Friday, with Marc Albrighton replacing Barnes to make his first start since January after a hamstring injury.
Jonny Evans, meanwhile, came in for captain Wes Morgan. Brendan Rodgers’ men needed to be alert in the early exchanges as the Hammers came out of the blocks with attacking intent.
First Marko Arnautović fired wide of Kasper Schmeichel’s net before the Austria international was denied by a brilliant block from Foxes midfielder James Maddison.
With 25 minutes on the clock, Ricardo Pereira did exceptionally well to distract Antonio, who initially collected a high cross from Robert Snodgrass, but the 29-year-old’s shot was too tame.
Antonio did get his goal in the 37th minute, though, as home captain Mark Noble crossed from the left wing and the former Nottingham Forest forward nodded past Schmeichel.
While the East London outfit were able to hold on until the break, they couldn’t keep City at bay in the 67th minute as Vardy poked a smart Ben Chilwell pass into the bottom corner.
Wilfred Ndidi’s attempt at a curler shortly after was mightily close to putting the Foxes ahead, but it was West Ham who found the net next in Stratford.
When a Pedro Obiang shot came back off the post and into the path of Pérez in the 82nd minute, the Spaniard duly sent it beyond Schmeichel to give the Hammers a late advantage.
Just as it seemed that Leicester would have to accept only a third defeat of Rodgers’ reign so far, Youri Tielemans played an exquisite through-ball for Barnes to slot past Łukasz Fabiański.
Major moment
With the Foxes searching in earnest for a late leveller in front of the Foxes faithful in the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand, they needed a spark of creativity to unlock a rigid West Ham defence.
Up stepped Youri Tielemans to defy the two men who stuck by his side all game to slot Harvey Barnes into a wonderful position in the box to seal a sixth draw of the campaign.
Who impressed?
Harvey Barnes has been such an impressive presence for the Foxes since returning from a successful loan spell at West Bromwich Albion, but a goal continued to allude him.
His 64th-minute introduction, though, sparked an improvement in performance for Leicester, leading to a landmark moment for the 21-year-old midfielder – and a goal he’ll never forget.
Where does it leave us?
Despite avoiding defeat in the capital, Leicester drop to eighth in the Premier League table, below Watford, following their 2-1 success at Huddersfield Town.
The Hornets are one point better off and have a game in hand on the Foxes, while Wolverhampton Wanderers are level on 48 points with Brendan Rodgers’ men.
Coming up…
Leicester City welcome Arsenal to King Power Stadium on Sunday 28 April (12pm BST kick-off) before heading to champions Manchester City on Monday 6 May (8pm BST kick-off).
A final day clash with Chelsea on Filbert Way then awaits the Foxes on Sunday 12 May (3pm BST kick-off).