Harvey Barnes cancelled out Wilfried Zaha’s opener as in-form Leicester were held to a draw by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Barnes’ low strike into the corner salvaged a point for Brendan Rodgers’ much-changed side, who climb to second in the Premier League table.
Kelechi Iheanacho spurned a golden opportunity to give the visitors a first-half lead when his penalty was saved by Vicente Guaita.
The Nigerian’s miss looked like it might prove costly when Zaha finished superbly from Andros Townsend’s cross, but Barnes’ second goal in as many games rescued a draw for the Foxes.
Leicester, who made seven alterations to the team that drew with Manchester United on Boxing Day, dominated possession but failed to test Guaita from open play until Barnes’ late strike.
The visitors’ only other effort on target was from Ayoze Perez, whose first-half free-kick was easily held by the Spanish goalkeeper.
The point lifts Palace above Newcastle into 13th place, eight points clear of the bottom three.
A step in the right direction for Palace
Having watched his side lose to 10-man Aston Villa 48 hours previously, Hodgson may have welcomed the quick turnaround as an opportunity to make amends for that painful defeat at Villa Park.
The hosts were second best for much of the first half but should have taken the lead after Guaita had denied Iheanacho from the spot.
Former Foxes player Jeffrey Schlupp – making his 100th Premier League appearance for the Eagles – teed up Townsend on the edge of the six-yard box but the winger could only scuff his effort wide.
As has so often been the case this season, it was Zaha who provided the spark of inspiration for Palace.
The 28-year-old connected superbly with Townsend’s in-swinging cross to power an unstoppable volley past Kasper Schmeichel for his eighth league goal of the season.
Hodgson will be frustrated at his team’s inability to hold on to their slender lead, but following recent heavy defeats against Liverpool and Villa, this was certainly a step in the right direction for the Eagles.
More to follow.
Player of the match
GuaitaVicente Guaita
Crystal Palace
Squad number31Player nameGuaita
Squad number10Player nameTownsend
Squad number11Player nameZaha
Squad number17Player nameClyne
Squad number15Player nameSchlupp
Squad number8Player nameKouyaté
Squad number5Player nameTomkins
Squad number27Player nameMitchell
Squad number44Player nameRiedewald
Squad number18Player nameMcArthur
Squad number4Player nameMilivojevic
Squad number9Player nameJ Ayew
Squad number20Player nameBenteke
Leicester City
Squad number15Player nameBarnes
Squad number2Player nameJustin
Squad number6Player nameEvans
Squad number9Player nameVardy
Squad number18Player nameAmartey
Squad number1Player nameSchmeichel
Squad number33Player nameThomas
Squad number24Player nameMendy
Squad number8Player nameTielemans
Squad number17Player nameAyoze Pérez
Squad number26Player namePraet
Squad number20Player nameChoudhury
Squad number7Player nameGray
Squad number14Player nameIheanacho
Line-ups
Crystal Palace
- 31Guaita
- 17Clyne
- 5Tomkins
- 8Kouyaté
- 27Mitchell
- 10Townsend
- 4Milivojevic
- 44RiedewaldSubstituted forMcArthurat 74′minutes
- 15SchluppSubstituted forJ Ayewat 84′minutes
- 20Benteke
- 11Zaha
Substitutes
- 1Butland
- 2Ward
- 3van Aanholt
- 9J Ayew
- 12Sakho
- 18McArthur
- 22McCarthy
- 23Batshuayi
- 25Eze
Leicester
- 1Schmeichel
- 2Justin
- 18Amartey
- 6Evans
- 33Thomas
- 20ChoudhuryBooked at 51minsSubstituted forTielemansat 57′minutes
- 24Mendy
- 17Pérez
- 26PraetSubstituted forVardyat 66′minutes
- 15Barnes
- 14IheanachoSubstituted forGrayat 72′minutes
Substitutes
- 4Söyüncü
- 5Morgan
- 7Gray
- 8Tielemans
- 9Vardy
- 11Albrighton
- 12Ward
- 25Ndidi
- 28Fuchs
Live Text
Match ends, Crystal Palace 1, Leicester City 1.
Second Half ends, Crystal Palace 1, Leicester City 1.
Attempt missed. Ayoze Pérez (Leicester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by James Justin.
Attempt missed. Harvey Barnes (Leicester City) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by James Justin with a cross.
Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by James McArthur.
Attempt missed. Demarai Gray (Leicester City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
Ayoze Pérez (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by James McArthur (Crystal Palace).
Attempt missed. Harvey Barnes (Leicester City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Ayoze Pérez.
Attempt blocked. Youri Tielemans (Leicester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jonny Evans.
Hand ball by Nathaniel Clyne (Crystal Palace).
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Jordan Ayew replaces Jeffrey Schlupp.
Goal! Crystal Palace 1, Leicester City 1. Harvey Barnes (Leicester City) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jonny Evans with a headed pass.
Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Nathaniel Clyne.
Substitution, Crystal Palace. James McArthur replaces Jairo Riedewald.
Offside, Leicester City. Youri Tielemans tries a through ball, but James Justin is caught offside.
Substitution, Leicester City. Demarai Gray replaces Kelechi Iheanacho.
Foul by Nampalys Mendy (Leicester City).
Luka Milivojevic (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution, Leicester City. Jamie Vardy replaces Dennis Praet.
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