If someone had told you at the beginning of the season that Leicester taking on West Ham would be a pivotal match in the Premier League title race, would you have believed them?
It really has been the most unpredictable Premier League campaign of all time, as league leaders Leicester city head towards the most unlikely of title victories.
However, their latest result, a 2-2 draw with fellow European qualification aspirants West Ham, represents a stumble in their quest to get the trophy.
As the minutes ticked down, Jamie Vardy’s first half opener looked to have been enough for his side to clinch another three points. However there were more twists and turns to come.
Vardy turned from hero to villain as he was sent off by referee Jon Moss following a second yellow card, for simulation, as he sought to earn a penalty early in the second half.
Moss became the true villain of the piece as a number of dubious decisions culminated in a controversial 2-2 draw.
First, Wes Morgan was ruled to have impeded Winston Reid as a corner was delivered, allowing Andy Carroll to equalise from the penalty spot. Next an absolute screamer from Aaron Cresswell saw West Ham take the lead just two minutes after their controversial equaliser.
Just as the Hammers thought the job was done, yet another controversial decision from Moss saw Leicester slot an unlikely equaliser. Carroll’s slight nudge on Jeffrey Schlupp in the final minute of the game was enough for Moss to point to the spot for the second time in the match, again in highly dubious circumstances.
Substitute Leonardo Ulloa stepped up in the absence of Vardy and made no mistake, sending goalkeeper Adrian the wrong way to seal a point for his side at the King Power Stadium.
It was perhaps a fair result, considering the carnage created by the referee. However, for Leicester it is possibly the most important point in the entirety of their magnificent campaign.
As thing stand, the Foxes lead Spurs by eight points with four matches to play, albeit the latter maintain a game in hand, which will be played at Stoke City on Monday evening.
A match of this capacity had the potential to derail Leicester’s form and mindset heading into the all-important final four matches, especially considering the dubious circumstances which saw Leicester surrender their lead. Claudio Raineri’s side do not have an easy run home, coming up against Swansea, Manchester United, Everton and deposed champions Chelsea.
Had the Foxes not clinched a late point here, the implications could have been devastating to their mentality in the run home. Football is a mental game and a single loss can see a side, especially one in the uncharted territory of Leicester City Football Club, succumb to the pressures of facing must-win matches.
Leicester’s aim is clear from here: win as many of their remaining four as possible. Judging on their form, and considering they’ve only lost three games all season, games against cellar dwellers Swansea City and midtable Everton are very winnable. However, games against Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United tend to be unpredictable, and could form a seriously difficult task for Ranieri’s men. Then there’s the pressure of a match against Chelsea if the title race goes down to the 38th and final match of the season.
As it stands, Spurs remain the only real challengers to Leicester’s bid for the title. However, any Spurs charge remains hinged upon slip-ups from the Foxes. Leicester’s destiny is well and truly in their own hands, it just remains to be seen whether they can continue to cope with the ever-mounting pressure in the final weeks.
Focusing on Spurs’ predicament, Mauricio Pochettino’s side face Stoke, followed by West Brom, Chelsea, Southampton and Newcastle. That means that, if the title does go right down to the wire, a final-day clash with relegation battlers Newcastle could decide both the title and the relegation scrap.
Having witnessed the ups and downs of this erratic Premier League season, no one should be surprised to see yet another final twist in the tale, as one of Leicester and Spurs get their hands on the title.
However, remember the importance of Leicester’s pivotal point against West Ham, care of Jon Moss, as it could well prove the point that wins the Premier League for 2015-16.
Peter Cotton
Guest
Agree Steve. Hard for Vardy to remain on his feet when sprinting with a defender leaning on him, but as the contact was minimal, and possibly fair, the ref should have done what most EPL refs do, waved play on, and indicating to the attacker (Vardy) that he was not fouled.
Kaks
Roar Guru
I'm sorry, but jumping infront of the defender to force 'contact' while going down in the same motion is a dive.
steve
Guest
Didn't think it was a penalty nor a dive from Vardy, Ref should have waved it away and played on.
WHammer
Guest
He dived, watch the clip with the view from behind and you can see he jumps forward. If you are in the box and you feel contact, you fall down. What is the worse that is going to happen? A yellow card. Unfortunately for Vardy he already had one. Shocking game by the ref overall and as SM said - it balanced itself out in the end.
SM
Guest
The ref certainly lost control. That final penalty appeal was the least valid of the lot and he couldn't wait to give it. All things considered, I think 2-2 was probably the fair result in the end. The referee just took 'evening things out' to a whole other level.
SM
Guest
Critical point for Leicester. Assuming Spurs beat Stoke tomorrow the points difference is five instead of the four it would have been without that late penalty. Spurs still need to make up two wins, whereas a four point gap is made up by a win and a draw. Also bear in mind that Spurs' superior goal difference is as good as an extra point if points were level.
apaway
Roar Guru
Quite simply, this was the worst refereeing performance I've seen in the EPL. Jon Moss dug a hole for himself by allowing strong challenges to proceed without interruption for the first 30 minutes. So far so good. But then he did an about-face and started booking players. He then compounded this by giving Vardy a red card that Leicester should be appealing as soon as they can. Referees are now of a mindset that the type of challenges like the one on Vardy are either fouls or dives. On review, it looked to me like a penalty, but in real time, there was no hint of a dive from Vardy. Terrible overreaction, and it changed the course of the game. I hope it hasn't changed the course of the premiership. Moss then added to his ineptitude by awarding West Ham a penalty for an offence that occurs at every single corner kick. Minutes later he chose not to be consitent when Robert Huth was tackled to the ground in a far more blatant offence. And then, perhaps realising what is incompetence had wrought, he sought to redress the balance with a soft penalty award to the Foxes in injury time.