The Premier League early kick-off saw Stoke pitted against former champions Leicester City at the King Power Stadium, with the visitors languishing in the relegation zone and needing a big three points away from home.
However, the first half appeared as if it was going to be a goalless affair with both teams lacking a cutting edge up front. Riyad Mahrez, who was making his first Premier League start since the transfer saga with Manchester City, looked the liveliest threat but it would be the visitors who would take an unlikely lead just before half-time.
In the 43rd minute, Xherdan Shaqiri had tonnes of space to exploit 20 yards out and decided to have a go. It was a great choice as his curling shot found the back of the net despite opposition goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel getting his fingertips to it, bagging his seventh goal of the season.
24 February 2018
The whistle would blow minutes later with Paul Lambert understandably the happier of the two managers, especially considering Stoke had just a mere 33 per cent possession in the opening 45 minutes and a woeful pass accuracy of 53 per cent.
- Leicester rewarded for their pressure -
The second half started quickly for both teams with Stoke and Shaqiri having a great opportunity to make it 2-0. Schmeichel took a free-kick out wide on the right but it was intercepted high up by the visitors who played through the Swiss midfielder. Shaqiri hit the ball quickly to take advantage of the Leicester keeper running back to defend his goal but his shot was wastefully off target.
He would rue that missed chance ten minutes later when Leicester were gifted an equaliser by Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland. The England international failed to catch a Mark Albrighton cross as it instead slipped out of his grasp and into the back of the net for an own goal.
Butland would make up some of his pride toward the end of the match though as he saved a Mahrez long-range effort and tipped a Harry Maguire header onto the post in quick succession to keep the home side at bay, securing a much-needed point for the 'Potters'.
24 February 2018
The draw hasn't caused much change in the Premier League table. Stoke are still languishing in 19th and in the relegation zone but have now drawn level on points with Southampton, who play Burnley at Turf Moor in the 4pm kick offs. For Leicester, the points means they go above Burnley but whether they stay there will depend on the result in that later match.