Danny Welbeck scores late goal to rescue draw for Brighton against Leicester City

Danny Welbeck inflicted more late heartbreak on Leicester as Brendan Rodgers’ side let slip another lead in the closing stages four days after conceding twice to Tottenham in stoppage time.

Just as on Wednesday night, Leicester were in the driving seat in the final part of the match before Welbeck, a second-half substitute, levelled eight minutes from full-time. 

If it was not quite as dramatic as the last-gasp double from Spurs forward Steven Bergwijn, the goal asked just as many questions of Leicester’s ability to hang on to a lead. Brighton came close to a winner, too, and the result was greeted with boos from the Leicester supporters.

Danny Welbeck scored in the 82nd minute to rescue a point for Brighton against Leicester

Patson Daka had opened the scoring in the 46th minute but Leicester were unable to hold on

This was the eighth match this season in which Brighton have scored after the 80th minute and would have brought some cheer to their manager Graham Potter, who was absent after contracting coronavirus. 

A point was the least they deserved for their second-half display, even though Patson Daka had given the home side the lead barely 30 seconds after the restart.

Leicester made three changes from that dramatic defeat to Spurs with James Justin making his first league start for nearly a year, Daniel Amartey available again after Ghana were knocked out of the Africa Cup of Nations and Harvey Barnes also recalled.

The two sides had entered half time level but the early second half goal put Leicester in control

Leicester were looking good to win consecutive league matches for the first time October 

In Potter’s absence, meanwhile, Neal Maupay and Leandro Trossard returned for Brighton.

Justin made a promising second-half appearance against Spurs and he made an early impact here with a burst into box that created a chance for James Maddison, whose shot was kept out by Robert Sanchez’s foot

At the other end, Marc Cucurella’s dangerous cross was not properly cleared by Luke Thomas but Pascal Gross volleyed it well over.

Despite pleasing approach work from both sides in the first half, there was little goalmouth action. 

The lively Maddison put a free-kick into the side netting and after Sanchez had flapped at his corner moments later, Barnes could readjust in time to turn in Youri Tielemans’ mishit shot.

Sanchez made up for the mistake with the save of the half in the 35th minute. Maddison robbed Alexis Mac Allister and Barnes collected the loose ball before finding Ademola Lookman to his right. Sanchez was out quickly to close down the angle and make a solid stop.

It was the eighth match this season in which Brighton have scored after the 80th minute

Leicester let another lead slip just as they had done against Tottenham four days ago

The final whistle was met with boos from the home fans who were annoyed to dropped points

Having struggled to test Sanchez regularly in the first half, Leicester needed only 28 seconds to beat him in the second. Lookman returned the ball to Maddison, whose attempted shot turned into perfect pass for Barnes. Though Sanchez blocked his shot, he was helpless to stop Daka lashing in the loose ball.

Perhaps rattled, Adam Webster gave the ball away to Lookman and was spared when his defensive partner Dan Burn cut out the cross with Maddison and Daka lurking.

Brighton were creating opportunities only to be let down by a faulty radar. Mac Allister skied one from 16 yards when unmarked and Jakub Moder was similarly inaccurate with a volley from Cucurella’s cross.

Brighton were without Graham Potter who tested positive for coronavirus in the week

While Brendan Rodgers was on the touchline to watch his side again throw away points late on

His side were lucky to come away with a point as Brighton had a chance to win it in injury time

Brighton sent on Tariq Lamptey and Welbeck and switched to a big three, with the new men nearly combining for the equaliser in the 73rd minute. 

Lamptey got behind the Foxes defence for the third time and his cross was met by Welbeck, only for Kasper Schmeichel to produce a superb stop. Luckily for Leicester, Amartey was alert enough to scramble the loose ball behind.

But Welbeck was not to be denied. Nine minutes from time, Maupay sent over the cross and the former England forward drifted away from Justin before guiding his header in off the post.

The visitors sensed their chance and thought they had a winner when Burn climbed above Amartey only for Tielemans to head it off the line. Moments later, Schmeichel produced another outstanding stop to push Trossard’s effort around the post.