Depleted Leicester held to draw at Burnley

Leicester now 15 points behind leaders Manchester City in Premier League

Burnley's Czech striker Matej Vydra (2R) celebrates with team-mates after scoring the opening goal during. AFP

Third-placed Leicester City were held to a 1-1 Premier League draw at lowly Burnley on Wednesday after their Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho cancelled out Matej Vydra's opener.

The result left Leicester in third place, level on 50 points with Manchester United, who were facing Crystal Palace later on Wednesday.

Both teams are 15 points behind leaders Manchester City.

Burnley grabbed a fourth-minute lead when Hamza Choudhury's poor pass back to Wilfred Ndidi was intercepted on the edge of the box by Vydra.

The Czech striker blasted past Kasper Schmeichel for his first league goal of the season.

Choudhury could have made quick amends when Timothy Castagne found him unmarked in the box but he struck the ball into the ground and Nick Pope was able to tip over.

Despite the absence of key creative players James Maddison and Harvey Barnes, Leicester were a threat going forward and were rewarded for their endeavours with an impressive equaliser in the 34th minute.

Ndidi floated a beautifully weighted ball towards Iheanacho in the area and the Nigerian's timing and technique was perfect as he volleyed past Pope.

Burnley, 15th in the table, had been poor in their 4-0 loss at Tottenham on Sunday but had much more verve about them, boosted by the return of Chris Wood to their attack.

The New Zealander, who had scored in his last three games against Leicester, his former club, forced Schmeichel into a superb diving save at the foot of the post with an angled header from a fine Matt Lowton cross.

Burnley midfielder Ashley Westwood struck the post with a drive from outside the box as Sean Dyche's side, still with a nervous eye on the relegation zone, searched for the full points.

Leicester also hit the woodwork with a Youri Tielemans shot, slightly deflected off Jack Cork, but Brendan Rodgers's side had to settle for the point.

"We didn't make a good start but showed the mentality of the players to come back into the game," the Leicester manager said.

"We didn't start the second half well but then I felt as the second half wore on we could go on and win the game and we nearly did."

Dyche was happy his team had shown the energy and defensive discipline for which they are known.

"It is pleasing in the sense of coming off a very tough game against Tottenham," he said.

"Their keeper was arguably man of the match. I was really pleased with our approach play, it was much, much better.

"Leicester are a good outfit despite having a number of injuries like ourselves.

"You can't be too greedy and the performance was important, getting back to what we are about."

Burnley are six points above 18th-placed Fulham, the highest placed side in the relegation zone, with 11 games left to play, although Fulham have a match in hand.