Mahrez rescues point for Leicester

CHAMPIONSHIP

NOTTINGHAM FOREST 2

(Jamie Paterson 39, Andy Reid 43-pen)


LEICESTER 2

(Jamie Vardy 29, Riyad Mahrez 82)

Nottingham Forest were denied the chance to blow the Championship promotion race wide open as Riyad Mahrez earned 10-man Leicester a point with a late goal as a drama-filled derby ended 2-2 this morning (Singapore time).

Billy Davies' Forest fought from going a goal down to Jamie Vardy's 29th-minute strike to take a 2-1 lead through a thumping header from Jamie Paterson and an Andy Reid penalty just before the break.

Nigel Pearson's league leaders were far from beaten, however, and, despite being a man down following Paul Konchesky's 60th-minute red card, snatched a 2-2 draw late on when Mahrez fired home amid a goalmouth scramble after Karl Darlow had saved Kevin Phillips' penalty.

Leicester took the lead after a questionable moment from Darlow, who rushed to the edge of his box to contest a high ball with David Nugent but managed only to punch tamely to Vardy who fired into the exposed net.

Anthony Knockaert and Danny Drinkwater both came close with long-range efforts for the visitors, but it was Forest who were to enjoy a dramatic revival.

First, Paterson powered an emphatic header into the corner of the net from 15 metres after Kasper Schmeichel had only half punched clear a Reid corner, to pull the home side level on 39 minutes.

Then former Forest defender Wes Morgan pulled down Jamie Mackie to concede a penalty.

It might have been worse for the Foxes skipper, who escaped with a yellow card.

But Reid delivered further punishment from the spot, lashing an unstoppable shot low to the goalkeeper's left.

Konchesky was then shown a red card with half an hour still to play as he was involved in a crunching clash with Mackie.

It was Leicester who provided the final twist in the 82nd minute, however, after Paterson had blocked Matty James in the box.

Veteran Phillips saw his penalty saved brilliantly by Darlow but James fed the loose ball to Mahrez who fired home.

- PA Sport.