Chelsea 1-1 Leicester City
The traffic on the M40 may have accounted for a late switch at Stamford Bridge – referee Graham Scott replaced by fourth official Ollie Langford to take charge of his very first Premier League game – but that was the only slow-moving part of the afternoon’s Premier League events.
Stamford Bridge was in party mood as it officially welcomed one of its favourite sons for his first game in charge in the dugout.
And his players were equally as determined to make this a homecoming to remember.
That showed from the outset as the hosts set off at a frantic pace before the Foxes ensured parity with a quickened second half of their own.
Highlights of the game
Although they had been the better side for an hour of the contest, Frank Lampard had a baptism of fire in his first match in charge last week.
That was closely followed by penalty shoot-out heartache in the midweek UEFA Super Cup Final.
So, the need for a positive result was clear.
Captain Cesar Azpilicueta led by example two minutes in, floating a pinpoint ball into the danger zone where Olivier Giroud chested it down to Pedro whose shot found the side netting.
Then Kasper Schmeichel saved from young Mason Mount and home debutant Christian Pulisic as the Foxes were pegged back.
Chelsea were not to be denied a goal for their relentless start and were rewarded in the seventh minute.
Wilfred Ndidi was dispossessed by the alert Mount who, despite losing his balance, kept his clam and slotted beyond Schmeichel.
Leicester, who opened with a frenetic although ultimately a bit of a damp squib against Midland rivals Wolves a week ago, had not caught their breath and, while they settled slightly, the chances continued at the other end.
Schmeichel denied Mount and N’Golo Kante’s shot would have been in but for a deflection of Christian Fuchs which took it narrowly past the post.
There were signs just before the break that Leicester were starting to settle and, prompted by James Maddison, slowly but surely they started to threaten and some passages of play after the break produced some neat Premier League highlights.
Early in the second half, Maddison was played through by Ayoze Perez and, with Jamie Vardy slightly offside, he cleverly kept possession and rounded Kepa Arrizabalaga before pulling the ball back where Jorginho cleared.
An equaliser looked likely as the second half wore on and Maddison remained dangerous.
Midway through the second period, after a spell of pressing from the visitors, his delivery into the danger zone was powered home by the head of Ndidifor a deserved leveller.
Maddison had his head in his hands a short time later when he fired high from six yards when it looked like Leicester may go in front.
Substitute Tammy Abraham was also a whisker away as the game became end-to-end in the closing stages, capped by Arrizabalaga keeping out a Youri Tielemans strike.
Willian came off the bench on his return from a knee injury, while Brendan Rodgers introduced midfielder Dennis Praetfor his debut, but there was to be no winner.
An entertaining contest but the wait for Lampard- beginning this role just 12 months into his managerial career means he will be scrutinised from every angle – goes on.
Rodgers has not beaten Chelsea in the 13 games he has faced them as a manager (drawn seven, lost six) but, in the club’s 500th Premier League game – they are the 16th team to reach that milestone – he will be the happier of the two managers.
Key statistics
Mount (20 years, 229 days) is Chelsea’s youngest scorer in the Premier League for over three years, since Ruben Loftus-Cheek (20years, 70days) scored his first goal v Aston Villa in April 2016.
Maddison has created 50 chances from set plays in the Premier League since the start of last season (three assists), six more than any other player.
Lampard is the first Chelsea manager to fail to win any of his first three games in charge of the club since Rafael Benitez in the 2012-13 campaign.
Leicester won the corresponding fixture last season, with Vardy scoring the only goal.That is one of only five occasions Leicester have won a league match at Chelsea (drawn 13, lost 33).
Chelsea have won their opening home league match of the season in 14 of the past 17 seasons.
Leicester scored 27 goals away from home in last season’s Premier League, three more than they did at the King Power Stadium.
What’s next?
The SBOBET Premier League betting odds on Chelsea will continue to be assessed closely as they travel to Carrow Road for the early kick-off next Saturday (August 24) and a meeting with newly promoted Norwich City.
Leicester also have an away test at new arrivals in the top flight, a few hours later they meet Sheffield United.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
