Leicester 2-2 Brentford: Thomas Frank's side fight back from two goals down to earn point

Brentford boss Thomas Frank hailed his side's determination and mentality after the Bees fought back from two goals down to snatch a deserved 2-2 draw at Leicester.

Brendan Rodgers' side were on course for a comfortable Premier League victory at the King Power Stadium after goals either side of half-time from Timothy Castagne and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall saw them grab the advantage.

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However, the Foxes' issues from last season in holding onto a lead reared their ugly head again as Brentford, who used all five substitutes available to them in the second half, stormed back into the game.

They grabbed a lifeline through Ivan Toney's 62nd-minute strike before substitute Josh Dasilva's stunning goal four minutes from time sealed a share of the spoils for Frank's side.

The Danish boss said: "I just think this group of players, they just have so much determination and their mentality is crazy in the way they worked their way back into the game.

"Of course we made a few changes and changes to the system with a lot of offensive players, but that's something we've been practising, and we've wanted to do.

"Then the way it paid off was a fantastic feeling, especially with the story of Josh Dasilva."

How Brentford fought back to stun Leicester...

Leicester put their pre-season uncertainty behind them with a fast start, and, after Youri Tielemans forced David Raya into a smart save with a strike from distance, James Maddison planted a diving header wide from close range.

Those missed chances did not deter the hosts and they took a deserved 33rd-minute lead when Castagne headed home Maddison's inch-perfect corner for his first goal for the Foxes since March.

It almost got even better for Rodgers' side when Tielemans' low effort from distance beat Raya, but the ball crashed back off the upright and away to safety.

Brentford rarely threatened in the first half and their situation got worse seconds into the second half as Dewsbury-Hall's long-range strike found its way past Raya to extend Leicester's advantage.

But, out of nothing, Brentford hit back through Toney, who held off Daniel Amartey's challenge to pull one back from six yards in the 62nd minute.

It set up a grandstand finish and Brentford might have been forgiven for thinking their chances of an equaliser were gone when Toney headed wide from close range, but, with time running out, Dasilva stepped up and curled home a stunning equaliser to complete the Bees' comeback.

It was the 23-year-old's first Premier League goal after missing more than a year with a complex hip injury.

Frank 'emotional' for Dasilva after stunning goal

Brentford head coach Thomas Frank speaking about Dasilva's goal to Sky Sports:

"In the moment you're just celebrating and you're very happy, but after thinking what I should say to him in the dressing room I actually got almost emotional because he's been out for 18 months and it's a player I've been working with for four years.

"He's been out with a big injury fighting his way back and then had a good pre-season."

Rodgers: Frustrating to not see game out

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Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers speaking to Sky Sports:

"Up until that first hour, we'd played really well. Everything about our game was really good: our possession, the quality of our football was excellent and we minimised Brentford to very rare opportunities.

"Toney finishes well and the momentum swings a little bit. I just think that we could've been better with the ball in the second half.

"It's a little frustrating but the performance level was very good at 2-0 and we defended corners very well.

"We'll look at the positives from it because there were a lot of those, but it was just frustrating that we didn't see it through."

Analysis: Maddison and Fofana key, but old problems remain for Leicester

Sky Sports' Oliver Yew:

It was a difficult pre-season for Leicester.

Kasper Schmeichel left the club and a number of their top names have been linked with moves away from the King Power Stadium. On the other hand, Leicester are the only club in Europe's top five leagues not to make a signing.

However, the issues were swept aside when Dewsbury-Hall doubled their advantage seconds into the second half.

Leicester were bright and two of the players linked with moves away in Maddison and Wesley Fofana were at the heart of it. Fofana's crucial tackle on Bryan Mbeumo stopped a potential goalscoring opportunity for Brentford before Maddison's inch-perfect corner set up Castagne's header for Leicester's opener.

Maddison has now been directly involved in 13 Premier League goals for Leicester in 2022 (seven goals, six assists). Only one Englishman has had a hand in more in this calendar year (Harry Kane - 21), showing Maddison's importance to Leicester.

But, worryingly for Leicester, old problems resurfaced as they blew a two-goal lead at home for the first time since August 2003 versus Southampton.

Finding a solution to that, and keeping hold of their stars ahead of the transfer deadline will be high on the agenda for Rodgers in the coming weeks.

Analysis: Frank uses new five-sub rule to great effect

Sky Sports' Declan Olley:

Frank earned his money at the King Power Stadium as he masterminded a second-half Brentford comeback thanks to his substitutions and tactical changes.

With his side trailing 2-0, Frank brought on Keane Lewis-Potter and Dasilva in the 59th minute and switched to a 3-4-3.

Three minutes later Brentford scored through Toney and then substitute Dasilva fired in a late equaliser. Frank's changes had paid off.

"We started in the 4-3-3 then changed to 3-5-2 and then I changed to 3-4-3 to have one more offensive player in the middle of the park," he explained.

"Yoane Wissa was an outside centre-back and then Keane in, so we just had more offensive players on the pitch and changed the structure a bit so we could hopefully put more pressure on Leicester, which happened."

Wissa was then brought off in the 84th minute for Halil Dervisoglu and two minutes later the Turkish forward assisted Dasilva for the equaliser.

Dervisoglu was one of five substitutes made by Frank as he took full advantage of the new ruling, that many people believed would favour the bigger clubs.

But the Dane disproved that at Leicester as he used his full allocation expertly and ensured Brentford completed an impressive comeback.

What's next?

Live: SNF

Leicester head to Arsenal on Saturday August 13; kick off 3pm. They then face Southampton, Chelsea and Manchester United.

Up next for Brentford, they host Manchester United on Saturday Night Football, live on Sky Sports (kick off 5.30pm).

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