Chelsea were on the backfoot for the majority of Saturday afternoon's game against Leicester, but it finished goalless between the last two Premier League champions. A second half red-card for Ben Chilwell gave Chelsea the upper hand late on, but it finished 0-0 at Stamford Bridge.
Saturday afternoon marked the third consecutive 0-0 draw for Chelsea in all competition, the first such run in the club's history. On the flip side, the points being shared means Leicester are comfortably in eighth for the remainder of the weekend.
Leicester Look Lively
It was the visitors who began best and looked likely to open the scoring. Shinji Okazaki should've done better after nine minutes, getting on the end of Ben Chilwell's cross, but the striker failed to hit the target from a few yards out. Just a minute later, Leicester had another good chance thanks to Chilwell, who found Jamie Vardy in behind only for the Englishman to flick his effort wide.
Vardy was in again inside 11 minutes, finding some space in the Chelsea box, but the striker dragged his shot wide of Thibaut Courtois' points. Antonio Conte's side were lucky not to be a goal or two down within a quarter of an hour. The best chance of the game fell to Wilfred Ndidi in the 12th minute after the midfielder had a free reign in the box, but Courtois managed to get across expertly and push his header away.
It was all Leicester in the first half with plenty of moans and groans echoing around Stamford Bridge. Ten minutes before the break, Riyad Mahrez fired a fizzing ball across the face of goal, but no one was on hand to simply tap home. Just before half-time, Chelsea finally had their best chance of the game as Cesc Fabregas' fierce shot from the edge of the box forced Kasper Schmeichel into a good save.
Chilwell Sees Red
The start to the second half wasn't much different as Leicester continue to create the better of the chances. Riyad Mahrez appealed for a penalty ten minutes into the second half, but replays showed he intiated contact with Andreas Christensen. Mahrez didn't let that weigh on him for too long as the winger cames inches away from opening the scoring, but his deflected effort trickled just wide.
Momentum switched with 20 minutes to play as Chilwell carelessly caught Victor Moses on the ankle, earning him a second yellow and his marching orders. The Blues stepped up with the visitors down to ten-men, but N'Golo Kante's shot from distance was easily saved. Tiemoue Bakayoko went close with ten minutes remaining, but the midfielder couldn't keep his shot down.
The last chance of the game fell to Marcos Alonso, who forced Schmeichel to get down low to push his free-kick away. A full time result of 0-0, which can be considered a disappointment for both sides. Chelsea looked poor from start to finish, while Leicester will be wishing they took their early chances.
The draw leaves Chelsea in third on 47 points, while Leicester are in eighth on 31 points.