Brighton 1-1 Leicester: Jamie Vardy penalty saves 10-man Foxes

Substitute Jamie Vardy’s late penalty saved a point for Leicester as they overcame James Maddison’s first-half red card to draw 1-1 at Brighton.

Glenn Murray's seventh Premier League goal of the season, on his 100th top-flight appearance, looked set for so long to give the hosts their third 1-0 home win of the campaign.

But after Maddison's dismissal for two avoidable yellow cards, the introduction of Vardy changed the game and his strike 11 minutes from the end ensured a fair final result.

Leicester are now unbeaten in four matches, while Brighton have at least ended a run of two successive defeats.

Chris Hughton's side tested Leicester early on through Beram Kayal, whose tenacity and invention drew a decent Kasper Schmeichel save from just inside the area.

Brighton's early possession paid off moments later, with Murray nodding in a simple opener after 15 minutes from Anthony Knockaert's corner ahead of Ben Chilwell and Shinji Okazaki.

The away side's task soon became harder, with Maddison's booking for a clip of Knockaert's heels followed by another three minutes later for simulation under Shane Duffy's challenge.

With Leicester lacking a spark, Vardy was introduced in the early stages of the second half and swiftly gave them it as they suddenly displayed much more appetite in attack.

Although chances were at a premium, their increased pressure eventually paid off 11 minutes from the end.

Kayal survived suggestions of handball as he blocked Jonny Evans but in the aftermath, he took out Kelechi Iheanacho in the penalty area - with Vardy passing high into the net from the spot.

Man of the match - Jamie Vardy

Beram Kayal's industry and the tireless work of Pascal Gross and Anthony Knockaert in midfield for Brighton made them all contenders but the introduction of Vardy changed the game. He gave Leicester presence up front, forced the home side into rushed decisions and ultimately scored the goal which saved a point with a fine, placed effort from the spot. If that groin injury was still troubling him in any way, it didn't show.

Opta stats

• Brighton have lost just one of their last nine home Premier League games (W4 D4).
• Since the start of last season, Leicester have both scored and conceded in a league-high 33 different Premier League games.
• Brighton's Glenn Murray made his 100th Premier League appearance today. At 35 years 60 days, he's the ninth oldest outfield player to reach the milestone in the competition.
• No English player has scored more goals in Europe's big five leagues this season than Brighton's Glenn Murray (7).
• Brighton defensive duo Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy both made their 50th Premier League appearances in this game, with only goalkeeper Mat Ryan (51) lining out more often for the club in the competition.
• Leicester have picked up four red cards in the Premier League this season, twice as many as any other side.
• Jamie Vardy ended a run of 468 Premier League minutes without scoring for Leicester, since netting another penalty against Newcastle in September.
• Since his Premier League debut in August 2014, Leicester's Jamie Vardy has scored 12 penalty goals, a figure only Sergio Aguero (17) and Harry Kane (16) can better in that period.

What might VAR have changed?

One key talking point came in the first half, when Pascal Gross broke clear only to be flagged offside and kept going anyway, rounding a half-hearted Kasper Schmeichel who already knew play had stopped and tapping in.

Schmeichel wanted Gross booked for continuing after play had been stopped - but the whole scenario raised a perfectly valid point which might get lost given Leicester's late comeback was deserved.

Replays showed Gross had been level with the last man when he was played in - and had he been allowed to continue and scored a minute or so before Maddison was then sent off, it might have made for a very different outcome.

What's next?

Leicester play their rearranged EFL Cup tie at home to Southampton on Tuesday night, with Manchester City awaiting the winners in the last eight. Brighton wait a little longer for their next match, next Saturday's Premier League trip to Huddersfield.

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