Leicester City v Wolverhampton Wanderers Live Commentary & Result, 22/04/2023, Premier League

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	MCI Manchester City	38	28	5	5	94	33	+61	89	L D W W W
2	ARS Arsenal	38	26	6	6	88	43	+45	84	W L L W W
3	MUN Manchester United	38	23	6	9	58	43	+15	75	W W W W L
4	NEW Newcastle United	38	19	14	5	68	33	+35	71	D D W D L
5	LIV Liverpool	38	19	10	9	75	47	+28	67	D D W W W
6	BHA Brighton & Hove Albion	38	18	8	12	72	53	+19	62	L D W L W
7	AVL Aston Villa	38	18	7	13	51	46	+5	61	W D W L L
8	TOT Tottenham Hotspur	38	18	6	14	70	63	+7	60	W L L W L
9	BRE Brentford	38	15	14	9	58	46	+12	59	W W W L W
10	FUL Fulham	38	15	7	16	55	53	+2	52	L D W W L
11	CRY Crystal Palace	38	11	12	15	40	49	-9	45	D D W L W
12	CHE Chelsea	38	11	11	16	38	47	-9	44	D L L D W
13	WOL Wolverhampton Wanderers	38	11	8	19	31	58	-27	41	L D L W L
14	WHU West Ham United	38	11	7	20	42	55	-13	40	L W L W L
15	BOU AFC Bournemouth	38	11	6	21	37	71	-34	39	L L L L W
16	NFO Nottingham Forest	38	9	11	18	38	68	-30	38	D W D W L
17	EVE Everton	38	8	12	18	34	57	-23	36	W D L W D
18	LEI Leicester City	38	9	7	22	51	68	-17	34	W D L L D
19	LEE Leeds United	38	7	10	21	48	78	-30	31	L L D L L
20	SOU Southampton	38	6	7	25	36	73	-37	25	D L L L L

That's all from Leicester today, so thank you for joining us and goodbye!

Two crunch clashes in the coming week could effectively decide Leicester's Premier League fate, as they meet both Everton and Leeds United; meanwhile, Wolves' pursuit of the points needed to guarantee safety takes them to Crystal Palace on Tuesday.

After being gifted a chance to equalise, Leicester City then manage to fight back from behind, riding out the punches and landing a knockout blow through Castagne's decisive strike. The Foxes haul themselves out of the bottom three more through sheer will than design, as a spirited display ends both a nine-match winless streak and their visitors' recent run of good results; keeping Lopetegui's men in the mix at the wrong end of the table.

90' + 5' FULL-TIME: LEICESTER CITY 2-1 WOLVES

90' + 5' With time running out, even Sa makes his way into the Leicester area for a late, late Wolves corner, but the goalkeeper is nowhere near the delivery and it seems that the Foxes will hold on.

90' + 4' From 20 yards out, an ambitious volleyed attempt by Neves sends the ball tamely drifting wide of the right-hand post - much to the audible delight of the home fans!

90' + 2' In the second minute of five indicated for stoppage time at the end of the match, a tired Daka shot from inside the box dribbles into Sa's gloves.

90' NO PENALTY! After a delay, the referee signals play will go on - there's to be no penalty for Wolves! Can Leicester now see this game out without any more such scares?

89' PENALTY? The VAR calls a halt to play, as Faes seems to have touched the ball in his own area with an outstretched arm! Will Wolves be given a route back into this game from the spot?

88' SAVE! After Daka clips Kilman on the edge of Leicester's area, Neves steps up to the free-kick and tests Iversen with a well-struck shot towards the top of the goal! The keeper flies high to tip the ball behind for a corner!

86' Only able to reach Praet's cross from the left with a glancing header at full stretch, Soyuncu sends the ball well wide of the target from around 10 yards out.

N. Mendy

K. Ịheanachọ

85' Smith removes another forward from his attacking lineup, as Iheanacho makes way for Mendy.

Pedro Neto

Toti

84' Wolves are going for broke now, as a forward, Neto, replaces left-back Toti.

83' Soyuncu charges down a powerful Neves attempt, then Iversen has to collect the ball under his crossbar after Hwang's shot loops up awkwardly.

Daniel Podence

Matheus Nunes

81' Lopetegui turns to Podence for some late inspiration, as Nunes makes way.

80' From the right, Nunes stands the ball up to the back post for Toti, but the unmarked full-back can only find the side-netting with his header from close range.

78' Released into the area, Iheanacho twice delays when he should strike at goal, then Daka mishits a low shot which is deflected harmlessly towards Sa. That could've sealed the points for Leicester!

D. Praet

Tetê

77' Praet is now thrown on to add more stability in midfield; Tete is withdrawn.

V. Kristiansen

Assist

75' Crossing from the left side of the area, Kristiansen picks out the run of Castagne into the centre with a low pass.

T. Castagne

Goal

75' LEICESTER LEAD! The Foxes fight back! Both full-backs are involved, as Kristansen bursts down the left to pull the ball towards the penalty spot, where Castagne smartly steers it into the net past Sa's despairing dive! He finds the bottom-right corner and makes it 2-1 to Leicester City!

74' It's all Wolves now, as the home side sit back and absorb pressure. They will be targeting a quick counter-attack to catch their visitors out.

72' Another dubious call goes Wolves' way, as Nunes topples over before Kristansen makes any contact and earns his team a free-kick inside Leicester's defensive third. Again, the set-piece ultimately comes to nothing.

70' A 50-50 clash of shins between Semedo and Daka sees the decision go Wolves' way. The subsequent free-kick is then cleared from the box and Leicester regain control of the ball.

W. Ndidi

Y. Tielemans

67' A below-par display from Tielemans comes to an early conclusion, as Ndidi replaces the Leicester City captain in midfield.

66' Standing firm, Sa does well to palm a Soyuncu drive away, but the flag then goes up to indicate an offside on Iheanacho in any case.

Matheus Cunha

Yellow Card

65' Pointlessly, Cunha goes into the book for a tug-back on Faes, who was only making his way into the Wolves half and offered no immediate danger. He may go on to regret that.

63' Since making their double change, Wolves have gained more control of proceedings. Costa does not offer much movement, so they will be a more mobile unit over the closing half-hour.

61' JUST OVER! A typical Neves strike from a 25-yard free-kick sends the ball dipping narrowly over the top of Iversen's goal and onto the top of the net! He's already making an impact from off the bench.

B. Soumaré

Yellow Card

60' Lunging in on Gomes in a midfield challenge, Soumare has no hope of winning the ball and instead picks up a yellow card.

João Moutinho

Diego Costa

58' Making his displeasure at being subbed plain for all to see, Costa also troops off, to be replaced by Moutinho.

Hwang Hee-Chan

Pablo Sarabia

58' Lopetegui can't be happy with how his team have performed in the second half so far - he makes a double substitution. First, Sarabia is replaced by Hwang.

56' SAVE! After Sarabia loses the ball in midfield, Daka receives a pass into the box and his driven attempt is denied by Sa's boot, then Dewsbury-Hall blazes over from close range! Without doubt, one of those chances should have been converted - Wolves escape!

54' Soyuncu stays alert to read a throughball towards Costa on the edge of his own area, intercepting the ball and ending a Wolves counter-attack.

52' Though he creates an opening with a clever run followed by a swift one-two, Dewsbury-Hall is unable to deliver an accurate cross from the left and Wolves clear the immediate danger. Still, though, Leicester are getting on the front foot in search of a second goal.

50' CLOSE! Faes drives forward unopposed from the back, then lays the ball off for Dewsbury-Hall on the edge of the box, but the substitute's shot across goal curls just wide of the right-hand post with Sa scrambling to reach it!

48' After Tielemans overhits his free-kick from the right, the ball falls for Daka on the far side of the Wolves area. However, the latter's attempted cross drifts too close to Sa, who then reaches up to grasp the ball safely.

46' Wolves kick off, and we are back under way at the King Power Stadium!

Rúben Neves

M. Lemina

46' Wolves have also made a change at the break, as Lemina makes way for Neves in midfield.

K. Dewsbury-Hall

J. Vardy

46' Having taken a blow on the ankle when winning Leicester's penalty, Vardy has been withdrawn at half-time. Dewsbury-Hall will be his replacement for the second half.

Wolves had 72 per cent of the possession during the final 15 minutes of that first half, which demonstrates their greater ability on the ball. Yet, Leicester have managed four shots on target compared to their solitary strike - they'll need to be more clinical after the interval if they are to go on and secure victory.

Having grown into the game and asserted their superiority by scoring the opening goal - in part, thanks to some dreadful Leicester defending - Wolves will be cursing themselves for failing to lead at the break. Caught on the counter by Vardy, the visitors paid the price for Sa's error when Iheanacho stroked home the Foxes' spot-kick and the game is back in the balance ahead of the second half. Can the home side now continue their revival and pick up three precious points?

45' + 5' HALF-TIME: LEICESTER CITY 1-1 WOLVES

45' + 3' CLOSE! Cutting in from the right flank, Iheanacho curls a shot at goal from the edge of the area, which Sa inexplicably fumbles. The goalkeeper just about redeems himself, though, by denying Daka access to the ball on the byline!

45' + 2' Invited to strike by a Leicester defence reluctant to close him down, Sarabia lets fly with a shot from 20 yards out, which rises steadily over the crossbar.

45' Four minutes will be added on for stoppages at the end of this first half, with Wolves trying to gain a foothold in the Leicester half. Since conceding a goal on the break, their dominance has been diluted.

Toti

Yellow Card

42' For hauling back Tielemans with a clear pull of the jersey, Toti becomes the second Wolves player to be booked.

41' The home crowd is in uproar as Vardy is penalised for challenge on Gomes in midfield, and Wolves can kill a few seconds to take the sting out of Leicester's attacking momentum.

39' An aerial challenge between Costa and Soyuncu leaves the latter down on the deck clutching his face, but when the referee shows little interest in booking the Wolves striker, the Leicester defender is soon able to recover.

K. Ịheanachọ

Penalty Goal

37' LEICESTER LEVEL! Ice-cool under pressure, Iheanacho steps up to the penalty and waits for Sa to move before slotting the ball into the bottom-left corner! It's now 1-1 at the King Power Stadium - game on!

36' For quite a while, Vardy remains down on the turf following Sa's challenge, but after receiving treatment looks as though he'll be able to continue.

35' PENALTY! Leicester will have a spot-kick chance to get themsleves back into the game! On the counter, Vardy is released into the area, and Sa decides to hare out of his goal and track down the striker's run. The goalkeeper slips, though, and upends his opponent!

José Sá

Yellow Card

34' Needlessly, Sa charges out of his six-yard box and slides into Vardy, conceding a penalty and earning himself a yellow card.

32' Slumping to the turf in frustration, Cunha is aghast as his low throughball for Nunes fails to meet its target and rolls behind for a Leicester goal-kick.

30' Kristansen has to turn the ball behind to stop Semedo getting the ball into the box from the right, and there are then some visible disagreements between the Leicester defenders - they are on the ropes right now.

28' Showing the strain, Leicester are split open again, as Sarabia strides through the centre before mishitting his throughball for Costa and sending it trundling out of play.

26' JUST WIDE! Wolves continue to apply pressure in search of a second goal, as following a corner the ball breaks to Dawson on the edge of Leicester's area. Unlike his previous effort, the defender hammers it on target, but a late deflection off Faes takes the ball narrowly wide of the left-hand post!

24' Alert to the danger, Faes makes a last-ditch block to deny Cunha's goalbound shot from close range, after Nunes finds his team-mate with a smart reverse pass.

22' Leicester have failed to win in their last eight Premier League matches when conceding the first goal, while Wolves have avoided defeat in their last seven when scoring the opener. That bodes well for the visitors today.

20' From the right, Sarabia sends over a deep cross which evades everyone in the box and ends up skipping straight out of play for a Leicester goal kick. That's a wasted chance to trouble Iversen with a sharper delivery.

18' Toti drives his shoulder into Tete near the corner flag, yet still seems incredulous when the referee awards Leicester a free-kick. However, the hosts don't make anything of the subsquent set-piece opportunity, which ends up in the gloves of Sa.

16' Following some treatment, Daka is cleared to continue, and the game resumes with Leicester trying to build from the back.

15' Having been brought down by Semedo, Daka is left down on the turf and requiring medical attention. The action will be paused while the medics assess him.

M. Lemina

Assist

13' After dispossessing Tielemans outside the Leicester box, Lemina then plays in Cunha to fire home Wolves' first goal of the game.

Matheus Cunha

Goal

13' WOLVES LEAD! Calamitous defending from the Foxes lets Wolves in for the opener! Tielemans is stripped of the ball deep in midfield by Lemina, then Cunha steps forward and lashes the ball into the bottom-left corner from 10 yards out! It's 1-0 to the visitors!

10' A scuffed finish from the left edge of the area sees Sarabia send the ball wide of the near post without troubling Iversen in the Leicester City goal.

9' In addition to seeking points for Premier League survival, today Leicester are looking to do the double over Wolves for the first time since 1996 - and for the first time in the top flight since 1981.

7' Tielemans topples Costa out on the touchline, and Wolves have the chance to swing a cross into the box. Following Sarabia's set-piece delivery, the ball finally breaks to Dawson near the penalty spot, but the defender gets underneath his shot and sends it soaring well over the crossbar.

5' Buoyed by their near-breakthrough earlier on, Leicester continue to press forward, but they ultimately lose possession when Daka plays a loose ball on the edge of the Wolves area.

3' CLOSE! Slipped through on the left, Vardy opts to lay the ball across the box for Tete, but the winger's low strike strikes Toti near the six-yard box and Wolves survive an early scare!

1' The home side kick off, and we are under way in Leicester!

The players are out on the pitch, and kick-off at the King Power Stadium is now just moments away!

Wolves, meanwhile, retain the team that beat Brentford last time out, which means the returning Neves must make do with a place on the bench. Former Atletico Madrid strikers Cunha and Costa join forces up front, with the latter seeking back-to-back Premier League goals for the first time since March 2017.

A huge blow will hamper Leicester's attempts to stop the rot today, as star man James Maddison misses out due to illness, joining injured winger Harvey Barnes on the sidelines. Nonetheless, Smith names an attacking lineup featuring Vardy, Iheanacho, Daka and Tete; Souttar, Ndidi and Dewsbury-Hall all drop to the bench.

SUBS: Daniel Bentley, Nathan Collins, Ruben Neves, Daniel Podence, Adama Traore, Hwang Hee-Chan, Joao Moutinho, Pedro Neto, Hugo Bueno.

WOLVES (4-4-2): Jose Sa; Nelson Semedo, Craig Dawson, Max Kilman, Tote Gomes; Matheus Nunes, Joao Gomes, Mario Lemina, Pablo Sarabia; Matheus Cunha, Diego Costa.

SUBS: Danny Ward, Luke Thomas, Nampalys Mendy, Wanya Marcal-Madivadua, Dennis Praet, Daniel Amartey, Harry Souttar, Wilfred Ndidi, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

LEICESTER CITY (4-2-3-1): Daniel Iversen; Timothy Castagne, Caglar Soyuncu, Wout Faes, Victor Kristansen; Boubakary Soumare, Youri Tielemans; Mateus Tete, Kelechi Iheanacho, Patson Daka; Jamie Vardy.

Today, Wolves will aim to claim three top-fight wins in a row for the first time in over a year, following back-to-back home victories against Chelsea and Brentford. Those results have helped Julen Lopetegui's men climb to 13th in the Premier League table and seven points clear of the relegation zone. The West Midlands side have, though, won on just one of their last 25 league visits to Leicester and have failed to score in all five away encounters with the Foxes in the Premier League era.

Aiming to avoid going 10 straight Premier League matches without a win, Leicester City kick off today's game sitting 19th in the table and two points shy of safety. Dean Smith's first game in charge ended in defeat last week, as his side were beaten 3-1 at Manchester City - their 20th league loss of the season. Yet to keep a clean sheet since the World Cup break, the Foxes have done so in six of their last seven meetings with Wolves, including a 4-0 win at Molineux in October's reverse fixture; however, they have recently lost each of their last five home fixtures in all competitions.

Hello and welcome to live coverage of today's Premier League clash between Leicester City and Wolves at the King Power Stadium!

Leicester City v Wolverhampton Wanderers Live Commentary, 22/04/2023

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