'Frustrated' Rodgers Highlights Improved Second-Half Performance

- Leicester City drew 2-2 with West Ham United at King Power Stadium on Sunday
- Youri Tielemans' penalty and a header from Ricardo Pereira overturned Jarrod Bowen's opener
- A late goal from Craig Dawson, though, secured a point for the visitors in added time
- Manager Brendan Rodgers highlighted City's second-half performance as a positive 

The Foxes fell behind to Jarrod Bowen's early strike on Filbert Way which, following recent disappointments, could have set the tone for the afternoon. However, Youri Tielemans' spot-kick, just before half-time, allowed City to reset the momentum in their favour.

A leaping header from Ricardo Pereira appeared to secure all three points for Leicester too, but Craig Dawson's bundled finish in added time – off his upper arm – rescued a point for David Moyes' high-flying visitors. It's a result which leaves the Foxes 11th in the Premier League standings.

"I thought the players deserved three points," Rodgers told LCFC TV in his full-time assessment at King Power Stadium. "In the second half, we were excellent, towards the end of the first half as well. West Ham started well. We gave away a poor goal, but our reaction was very, very good.

"It was much better. There was a little bit of anxiety in the first half, for the first 20 to 25 minutes. Obviously, our results haven’t been perfect, so the crowd were a little bit anxious.

"I reinforced to the players that, towards the end of the first half, going into the second half, our success had been built on having the ball and progressing with our possession. That’s our mantra and that’s what has led us into some really good positions over the last two and a half years.

"I need them to keep taking it and passing it and keeping the positions well and I thought, in the second half, we were excellent. It’s just very frustrating to lose another goal late on when the game should be dead."

The composure shown by Tielemans from 12 yards and the quality of Ricardo's second-half header also pleased Rodgers on Sunday.

"[The penalty] was very important," he added. "It’s a clear handball, a good delivery into the box, and [Tielemans] finished it really well. [Ricardo is] an attacking full-back. We want to get him in there to score. It was a great header, a great ball in by Barnesy (Harvey Barnes), who in particular in the second half, back to level.

"We deserved that and I think we had other moments in the second half where we could have scored more goals. Kasper [Schmeichel] didn’t have too much to do. It’s just very frustrating to have drawn the game, but it does feel like a loss."

The nature of West Ham's equaliser, coming from a corner in the dying moments, was a source of huge frustration for Rodgers, who says tireless work to improve Leicester's defensive set-piece record must continue in earnest. 

"It's very frustrating," the 49-year-old explained. "We need to find a more ruthless streak. We defended well for most of the game. It’s defining moments for us. We conceded a really poor one up at Anfield and at other times this season.

"We’ve just got to keep talking, keep looking and searching for the ways, but ultimately, it’s about having that ruthless streak. That’s something that’s not quite with us in that moment."

James Justin was forced to withdraw in the first half through injury and Rodgers was able to provide an early update on his condition, while also confirming Wesley Fofana – absent since August with a fractured fibula – is scheduled to return to training in the week.

"It looked like a hamstring, so we’ll see what the scan says," Rodgers said concerning Justin. "[Fofana] will join the squad this week, which is great news for us."