Report and reaction as Albion are held

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Two Joao Pedro penalties aren't enough as Leicester City twice hit back to draw 2-2 at the Amex.

Bruce Talbot

2025-04-12T17:00+01:00

So simple. Joao is joined by his teammates to celebrate his first penalty. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

Joao Pedro took his goal tally into double figures with two penalties but Albion were frustratingly held by lowly Leicester at the Amex.

The Brazilian’s spot-kicks – on both occasions after referee Darren Bond was sent to the pitchside monitor – twice gave Albion the lead but Stephy Mavididi scored Leicester’s first goal since 26 January and defender Caleb Oloki headed a second equaliser with 15 minutes to go.

Albion had plenty of chances to win comfortably, especially in the first half. Matt O’Riley hit the post but the finishing wasn’t clinical enough and in the closing stages it was revitalised Leicester who nearly got a winner when Bilal El Khannouss hit the inside of the post.

Yankuba Minteh can't believe it after putting an early chance wide. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

With Jan Paul van Hecke banned, Carlos Baleba slotted in alongside Lewis Dunk in central defence and didn't look out of place but collectively Albion didn't defend well enough.

Baleba won two headers in the first 30 seconds and Albion quickly penned the Foxes back. Danny Welbeck fired straight at keeper Mads Hermansen before Yankuba Minteh was left unmarked a couple of yards out but stabbed Simon Adingra’s cross wide. Adingra cut onto his right foot but his curling shot was inches wide of the far post.

The breakthrough came on 31 minutes. Conor Coady blocked Adingra’s shot with his outstretched left hand and Bond gave the penalty after being directed to the monitor by VAR Stuart Attwell. Joao sent Hermansen the wrong way as he stroked the ball into the bottom left-hand corner.

Joao Pedro opens the scoring from the penalty spot. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

The lead only lasted seven minutes. Lewis Dunk, who moments earlier blocked Luke Thomas’s volley, lost possession in the centre circle, Leicester broke and Mavididi stepped in from the left and his left-foot shot squirmed past Bart Verbruggen from the corner of the six-yard box.

Before the break Joao dragged an inviting opportunity wide and in stoppage time O’Riley hit the post. Albion ought to have been in complete control at that stage.

O’Riley was brilliantly denied by Hermansen early in the second half but then had his shirt pulled back by Luke Thomas in the box on 55 minutes. Again the referee played on and again was sent to the monitor – with the same outcome. A penalty, which Joao thrashed into the top right corner and again sending Hermansen the wrong way.

Matt O'Riley bursts into space. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

Minteh stabbed another great chance wide but the Foxes were far from finished. Verbruggen made a vital save with his legs to deny Patson Daka at close range before the visitors levelled in the 75th minute when Okoll powered home a free header from Bilal El Khannouss’s free-kick.

Jack Hinshelwood closes down an opponent. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

With four minutes to go Verbruggen’s fingertips diverted El Khannouss’s shot onto the post. Albion had a stoppage-time chance to win it but Welbeck headed Solly March’s cross straight at Hermansen. It summed up a frustrating afternoon in front of goal for the hosts.

Fabian Hurzeler watches on during a frustrating Amex afternoon. 📷 Paul Hazlewood.

The line-up

Verbruggen, Hinshelwood, Dunk, Baleba, Estupinan, Ayari, Minteh (March 70), O’Riley (Gomez 70), Adingra, Joao Pedro, Welbeck.

Subs not used: Rushworth, Gruda, Cashin, Wieffer, Tasker, Simmonds, Howell.

Referee: D. Bond

Attendance: 31,330

Fabian Hurzeler's reaction

On the result… “It’s disappointing, we were naïve, not mature enough and we didn’t react well to setbacks during the game. We didn’t stick together, especially in the final part of the game – that’s why we didn’t deserve to win. The last 30 minutes were unacceptable.

"If you lead twice you need a defensive mindset and everybody has a responsibility for maintaining that. We only defended well in phases, not for 90 minutes, and we weren’t able to keep the goal clean. We can talk about the chances we created and we scored two goals at home - it should have been enough to win.

“So we need to show a reaction on Monday onwards and into Brentford next Saturday. We need the fans. We are always successful if we are together and we need that to continue. It’s our responsibility to bring energy to the stands and it’s frustrating we weren’t able to do that today.

“We didn’t have the mindset of the challenger, otherwise we would have won the game. We weren’t alive at set pieces or counter-pressing which is how we conceded the goals.”