Leicester City dig deep to claim crucial point at Plymouth

Leicester City stretched their unbeaten run to six games, but they had to dig deep for a point at Plymouth Argyle.

On a quagmire of a pitch more suited to growing potatoes than playing football, Nigel Pearson's men showed their resilience against the relegation battlers at Home Park.

In recent weeks, Pearson's change of system has seen City play, in spells, some of their best football of the season.

However, they had to abandon the flamboyant approach for a more pragmatic style of play on probably the worst pitch in the Championship.

To give City credit, they did try to pass the ball, but with only fleeting success.

Last weekend, Paul Gallagher claimed the limelight for his hat-trick against Scunthorpe, but it was not the afternoon for his silky skills against the side for whom he scored 19 times last season.

Neither was it Martyn Waghorn's day. He almost literally ploughed a lone furrow in attack and was frustratingly caught offside too frequently.

Instead, it was a day for the likes of Wayne Brown and Jack Hobbs to show their mettle.

Apart from Plymouth's 38th-minute equaliser, when Craig Noone was able to steal in between the two City centre-backs to head home Chris Clark's cross, the duo were outstanding. It was the only blot on their copybook.

City fans have had to wait eight years to see their side score at Home Park – and they are still waiting, because City's equaliser came gift-wrapped by their generous hosts.

Hobbs's hopeful ball forward should have been easily dealt with by the Pilgrims' defence, but Kari Arnason played a blind back-pass to his keeper only to look up in horror to see David Stockdale out of his ground and the ball rolling into the unguarded net.

City have not won at Plymouth in the league for more than half a century and they held the lead for only seven minutes before the impressive Noone restored parity.

Both sides could have taken the points in what was an open and entertaining encounter, despite the pitch, and that was encapsulated in one minute just before City took the lead.

New Zealand international Rory Fallon almost put the hosts ahead on the half-hour with a back-post header, but Bruno Berner pulled off a great block.

City broke quickly and seconds later Lloyd Dyer's shot struck the foot of a post.

After the Royal Marines entertained the crowd, which was swelled by 1,339 City fans, with a display of their unarmed combat techniques, the battle commenced and both sides traded blows.

Gallagher had an attempt blocked by Chris Barker and then Waghorn fired inches wide of the far post after the best passing move of the game involving Andy King and Gallagher.

Substitute Joe Mason went close with a header after Reda Johnson had flicked on a long throw and then Berner did exactly the same from a Gallagher cross. He should have scored.

Arnasson had a chance to make amends for his dreadful own goal in the 74th minute when Chris Weale spilled Noone's free-kick, but he blazed his shot over the bar from close range.

Weale then produced a superb save when he tipped Mason's dipping half-volley against the bar with 10 minutes remaining.

The hosts, who are playing catch-up after failing to win in their opening 10 games, threw everything they had at City in the final 10 minutes but the visitors stood firm.

Weale produced another excellent save to deny Mason and then Carl Fletcher drove the ball back towards goal, but the excellent Hobbs was on hand to head off the line.

Then, in the fifth minute of added-time, Jamie Mackie should have done better when the ball fell to him eight yards out but he miskicked horribly, to sum up his afternoon.

The draw was a fair result and City can take great heart from their performance, but they may pay a price for their endeavours.

Tomorrow night's trip to Doncaster will end the sequence of seven games in 21 days and this clash on a particularly heavy pitch may have taken its toll.

Pearson has enjoyed a consistency of selection in recent weeks but he may have to shuffle his pack for the trip to Rovers to continue City's unbeaten run.