Leicester City 1-1 Ipswich Town
by Layth Yousif
at Filbert Way 

BEFORE kick-off, on the stadium's huge video screens at both ends, they played a reel of the Foxes' greatest hits over the last decade, accompanied, naturally, by Leicester band Kasabian's booming soundtrack.

Watching Leicester City's footballing luminaries and living legends lift the Premier League title, the FA Cup and the Community Shield over the last few seasons was a sad reminder of how far this proud club has fallen over the last year or two.

Yet, as the swarms of crowds making their way to this well-appointed ground before the match would attest - the 31,794 crowd on Monday evening being the biggest of the season - Leicester are on their way back.

One look at the Championship table would confirm that, as Enzo Maresca's lively side have powered their way to the summit, before then consolidating primary position in such a competitive division. In the process, picking up the pieces of a debilitating relegation from the promised land of the world's richest league last May under Brendan Rodgers.

On 25 minutes of this eagerly-awaited clash, Foxes Hamza Choudhry fired a long range shot that was palmed away two handed by Town keeper Vaclav Hladky.

Moments later the Suffolk side's captain, Conor Chaplain, well-placed on the edge of the area, lifted his shot over Foxes keeper Mads Hermansen as the game opened up.

On the half hour mark Town left-back Leif Davis inadvertently put the ball into his own net after keeper Hladky failed to prevent the ball going past his hands after a cross by Foxes No10 Stephy Mavididi to make it 1-0 to Leicester. 

Yet, Town are staging a heartening revival of their own under the highly-rated Kieran McKenna, gaining promotion from League One last term and spending the majority of this campaign so far in second spot. That was, until the rise of another fallen (provincial) giant Southampton leapfrogged them into second spot last week after Saints embarked on a club record of 20 games without defeat.

McKenna's side started the second half full of intent with Ipswich No7 Wes Burns testing Hermansen with a stinging shot moments after the interval.

The tempo rose with rambunctious challenges bordering on the edge of propriety, specifically involving Town's No2 Harry Clarke. Yet, as there no was no VAR, referee Josh Smith simply booked Town's right-back and everyone got on with the game.

Off the field both sets of fans engaged in reminding each other of past glories, albeit City's 2016 Premier League win was far more recent than Ipswich's vintage 1981 Uefa Cup winning side. 'Champions of Europe, you weren't even born,' scoffed the home support to their Suffolk counterparts. In return Ipswich sang the late Bobby Robson's name in honour of their great side.

But Marseca and McKenna are building hopes for the future with the talent they have so far assembled.

There was even time for that old warhorse Jamie Vardy to make a cameo appearance.

However, just as the home side appeared to be set for three points, Ipswich's Jeremy Sarmeinto squeezed the ball into the net after Foxes keeper Mads Hermansen could only parry Massimo Luongo’s fierce drive on 89 minutes, sending their vociferous travelling support into raptures. 

The point was enough for the Suffolk side to leapfrog Saints back into second spot behind Leicester.

"We know the three teams closest to us are abnormally strong for the division and are on course to get really, really high points totals," McKenna said after the match.

"There is so long to go, we just need to focus on ourselves."

No wonder the Ipswich travelling support roared at the final whistle: "We're on our way, to the Premier League we're on our way." 

Yet, so too are leaders Leicester. 

After 28 games, the Foxes have an eight-point buffer to Southampton in third, with only the prolific Reading side of 2006 - who gained elevation to the top flight with a record 106 points - have ever garnered more points than Maresca's Foxes at this stage of the campaign.

While the Foxes are also three points better off than Leicester's 2014 title-winning promotion vintage - who went up with 102 points, sealing their topflight place with six games to spare - the Italian refuses to take their position of power for granted.

Asked if Leicester can feel the breath of the chasing pack, Maresca said: "Since day one.

"I've felt the breath, not just today, I've felt it since we started," he underlined.

The race for promotion promises to be an enthralling tussle over the coming months.