Saturday 26 November 2016 18:43, UK
Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri has admitted that his side are in a 'battle of relegation' after a 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough.
The Foxes had to battle back twice to seal a point, with Alvaro Negredo breaking his goal drought to put Boro ahead in the 13th minute before Riyad Mahrez got the hosts level from the penalty spot after a Calum Chambers handball.
Negredo netted again with just under 20 minutes of normal time to play and the visitors looked to be heading for victory, but in the final seconds of the three minutes of added time, Islam Slimani also converted a penalty to snatch a draw for the hosts.
Leicester now sit in 13th - just two points above the bottom three - with Ranieri admitting his Foxes were looking at a fight to stay in the Premier League.
"For us now it's important to think we are in the battle of relegation and every point is OK. We wanted to win, but when it's not possible one point after 93 minutes is OK," he said.
"I'm not worried. But I am a very pragmatic man. Now we are (down) there, last season we were very, very far ahead, but I was always looking behind me.
"We must be patient, see what happens, stay together and let's pass that moment because sooner or later we will go back."
Despite being second best for much of the game, the Italian was pleased with the character his side showed to eventually take a point from the game.
"We knew it would be a tough match. Coming back twice is not easy and we were very lucky because in our best moment in the second half, they scored again but we showed fantastic character until the end and we believed that we could draw," he added.
"We could be tired [after the Champions League] but fortunately, the character and spirit of the group is good and only with a strong character can you draw this match."
