Leicester City 1-1 West Ham: Foxes late score equaliser against 10-man Hammers

Mark Noble was shown a red card in the 38th minute red card - his fifth in the league for the club

Wilfred Ndidi scored a 89th-minute equaliser to break West Ham's resolve after they looked set to take all three points despite Mark Noble's first-half sending-off.

Centre-back Fabian Balbuena had put the visitors in the lead, reacting first to the rebound from his own header, to prod home after 30 minutes.

Just eight minutes later Noble was shown a straight red card for a high, lunging tackle on Wilfred Ndidi.

West Ham frustrated Leicester, while Lukasz Fabianski made some crucial second-half saves.

Jamie Vardy had dominated the pre-match discussion, with reports the former England striker was angry at being dropped for the game.

The 31-year-old, who was forced off against Arsenal on Monday with a stomach bug, started the game on the bench and Leicester manager Claude Puel said the player was not "100% fit", despite Vardy declaring himself so via Instagram on Friday.

As it was, Vardy came on at half-time and offered more of an attacking threat. He went close with a header and late in the game had a fierce strike saved by Fabianski.

With the Hammers poised to take all three points, Ndidi's long-range shot took a wicked deflection off Balbuena to beat Fabianski.

There was concern at the end of the game, as Leicester right-back Daniel Amartey left the pitch on a stretcher in injury-time in some pain with an injury to his ankle.

Puel addressed the Vardy rumours at the end of the game, he said: " I don't know why it is a problem.

"I wanted him to come on in the second half to win the game. I have to manage his physical being. It is difficult to play him when he isn't 100%."

Tough times for Puel

Puel celebrated a year in charge at the King Power this week, but left the pitch on Saturday to boos.

The Frenchman had gone into the game on the back of four defeats in his last six league games and his team sheet raised eyebrows before kick-off, making four changes from the team that at lost 3-1 at Arsenal on Monday.

Selecting Kelechi Iheanacho, instead of Vardy, was the most eye-catching choice and the Nigerian barely threatened in the game, apart from when he was flagged for offside in the second minute, having swept the ball into the back of the net.

Vicente Iborra had the Foxes best chance in the first half after Noble's red, but his header was straight at Fabianski.

Vardy's second-half introduction gave his side more control, sharpness and pace in attack, but still Leicester toiled.

They had a flurry of chances, 21 shots in total, with 15 coming in the second half, but many were either from long range or offside - they were flagged seven times in the match.

Harry Maguire hit the crossbar with a header on 67 minutes and Fabianski kept out Marc Albrighton twice.

Puel introduced Shinji Okazaki for Turkish centre-back Caglar Soyuncu with 10 minutes remaining and finally got the breakthrough via Ndidi.

After getting back into the game, Leicester almost threw it away minutes later as Angelo Ogbonna shot over from a few yards out.

"I was happy with the second half because it was a good mentality and there was quality on the pitch," said Puel. "We showed two faces in our game and of course, we need to resolve this."

Depleted Hammers impress

The news this week that Ukrainian winger Andriy Yarmolenko would be out for six months with an Achilles injury, was the latest blow to the club already struggling with a long injury list.

They were dealt a further blow by the news Marko Arnautovic would miss the game through sicknesses.

After withstanding Leicester's early attacks they grew into the game and after Balbuena's opener, defended magnificently.

This was a match built on their defence, with Javier Hernandez cutting a frustrated figure up top, as he became increasingly isolated.

Declan Rice epitomised their efforts, excelling in the holding midfield role and protecting the back four.

The faces on the players after Ndidi's goal told the story, as they saw the result as three points lost.

"It was gutting to concede so late," said Rice. "If we would have come away with three points we would have been delighted but we can build up on this."

Manager Manuel Pellegrini said his side were "unlucky" with the goal, adding: "I am happy with the performance and the way the team played but not with the result.

"We drew against Leicester away with one player less which can be seen as a good result but the mentality of the players want more."

Man of the match - Declan Rice

Rice excelled in the holding midfield role

What's next?

Leicester are in Carabao Cup action on Tuesday night, as they host Southampton, before returning to league action against Cardiff on Saturday.

West Ham face Tottenham in the EFL Cup on Wednesday followed by the visit of Burnley in the league on Saturday.

Hammers can't hold on to lead - stats

• West Ham have picked up just eight points from their opening 10 league games this season; only twice before in the Premier League have they had fewer at this stage (seven in 2009-10, six in 2010-11)

• West Ham have now lost eight points from leading positions in this season's Premier League, more than any other side

• West Ham's Fabian Balbuena is the fifth different Paraguayan player to score in the Premier League (excluding own goals), and the first since Antolin Alcaraz for Wigan against Blackburn in May 2012

• Wilfried Ndidi's goal for Leicester was his first in the Premier League since May 2017 against Watford, 539 days ago. All three of his goals in the competition have come at the King Power Stadium