Leicester's Youngsters Held To PL2 Palace Draw
Jack Wells-Morrison saw Palace ahead, before Logan Briggs, on his maiden Premier League 2 start, equalised for City to claim a share of the spoils in Seagrave, as they did in the reverse fixture at Selhurst Park.
In the Foxes' first competitive fixture for two weeks, Ben Petty was forced to name a much-changed XI due to injury and loans, with Bayli Spencer-Adams, Tom Wilson-Brown, Kian Pennant and Briggs replacing Shane Flynn, Sammy Braybrooke, Brandon Cover and Kasey McAteer.
Tawanda Maswanhise forced Joe Whitworth into the first save of the game, with the Palace 'keeper required to make a low stop from range. But it would be the Eagles who struck first, as Wells-Morrison applied a side-foot volley to Dan Imray's cross on seven minutes.
Leicester were behind for just four minutes, responding to the early setback when City captain Lewis Brunt, playing in a defensive midfield role, drove forward, finding Briggs in space and the 18-year-old showed composure to apply the finish, finding the opposite bottom corner.
The south Londoners threatened to reclaim their advantage when a loose ball was pounced on by Ademola Ola-Adebomi but City were thankful that Spencer-Adams was able to do enough to deflect the ball over the top of the bar.
Back at the other end, full-back Joe Wormleighton was given the freedom of Seagrave to drive into the box and get a shot away. Kofi Balmer's block ensured it would not be a fruitful attempt.
There was almost a killer blow shortly before the break, however, as Ola-Adebomi found himself with space to take aim in the penalty area, but sent the ball inches past the post.
Chances remained relatively limited in the opening stages of the second half, though the first meaningful effort on goal did arrive via Khanya Leshabela's weaving run and eventual strike, which took a deflection to send it wide.
Kian Pennant soon headed Maswanhise's cross over the top, before Maswanhise himself struck off target from Brunt's knockdown to continue a spell of pressure on the Palace backline. The visitors, sitting third in the table prior to kick-off, appeared rattled and picked up a trio of yellow cards in quick succession as tempers flared.
Leshabela's next attempt would also land off target, as did Brunt's long-range hit, with missed chances perhaps prompting the first switch in attack with just under 20 minutes to play - Terell Pennant introduced in place of Kian Pennant. That was soon followed by Cover coming on for full debutant Briggs.
For all those opportunities, the home side could have been undone by one of Palace's only forays into the City penalty area. Ola-Adebomi shifted the play to visiting skipper Wells-Morrison, who produced a low shot that deflected off Spencer-Adams and wide.
His centre-back partner Paul Appiah was perhaps an unlikely candidate to score a potential winner, even though he had netted in the draw with Celtic last month, but the centre-back could not divert Maswanhise's centre on target. Wilson-Brown was unable to test Whitworth either, heading Wanya Marcal-Madivadua's corner wide.
In a frantic period of injury time, Chituru Odunze kept out Balmer from a tight angle, while with the last kick of the game, Spencer-Adams rattled the crossbar from Terell Pennant's corner. The Foxes would have to settle for a point.
Major moment – The equaliser
A crucial goal from Logan Briggs drew Leicester level and cancelled out the early opener within four minutes. It gave the hosts confidence to get on the front foot and hunt for a winner that they were unable to find.
Who impressed? – The goalscorer
It was a night to remember for 18-year-old Logan Briggs, handed his first start for the Under-21s and putting his name on the scoresheet inside the opening quarter of an hour. His contribution from an attacking midfield role did not go unnoticed in the first three quarters of the contest.
Where do we stand? – 14th in PL2
City remain 14th in the league standings after tonight's game, but move on to 11 points from 16 matches, four points behind Tottenham Hotspur.
Coming up – Wolves (H)
Leicester's youngsters are back at LCFC Training Ground next Monday, hosting Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s in a 7pm GMT kick-off.
The details...
City: Odunze; Wormleighton, Appiah, Spencer-Adams, Wilson-Brown; Brunt (C), Leshabela, Briggs (Cover 76'); Marcal-Madivadua, Maswanhise, K. Pennant (T. Pennant 71').
Subs not used: Doherty, Godsmark-Ford, Ali.
Goal: Briggs 11'.