Leicester's Riyad Mahrez shines again in sweltering draw with Tottenham

A hero's welcome greeted the Leicester City players as they walked out at the King Power Stadium on Saturday, as the Foxes, who had won their opening two games so far on the campaign, welcomed an out-of-sorts Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs dominated possession in the first half but Leicester posed a threat on the break. The game, however, lacked the zip that was expected due to the unfamiliar English heat.

Riyad Mahrez once again caused havoc. In tight areas down the right flank, his pace and trickery opened up spaces for himself. It made it a busy first half for left-back Ben Davies.

Mahrez produced the greatest talking point of the first half on 42 minutes. After jinking his way into the Spurs' area he first had his shirt pulled by Jan Vertonghen, and then was sliced down by the Belgian defender. Calls for a penalty were dubiously waved away by referee Martin Atkinson.

Clearly, Tottenham saw things from its perspective ...

The second half began with a quicker tempo as both teams seemed to become acclimatised to the high temperatures. The game continued to be scrappy though as the sides exchanged a string of half-chances.

On 80 minutes Claudio Ranieri introduced Gokhan Inler for his debut in English football. Although the ex-Napoli man was not directly involved in what happened over the next two minutes, his introduction seemed to inadvertently add a spark to the occasion.

First, Harry Kane powered towards the Leicester area with some four opposition players in close quarters. He played the ball to his left for Nacer Chadli, who then flicked the ball over in search of the onrushing Kane's head. Wes Morgan outmuscled the Spurs' number 10, but the ball ran through to an unmarked Delle Ali, who finished with a diving header from two yards. It was his first goal for the club, and it's unlikely he'll score an easier one in his career at White Hart Lane.

Then, a matter of seconds later, the relentless Jamie Vardy rose above Davies after a Leicester long ball, flicking it onto Mahrez. The impressive winger once again cut inside from the right, this time skinning Vertonghen and producing a slick shot into the bottom corner with his left.

The Algerian has now scored six goals in his last six Premier League appearances.

Leicester could have wrapped up the three points towards the end. Mahrez - that man again, this time cropping up on the right - played a teasing cross onto the head of captain Morgan. Unfortunately for the Jamaica international his bullet header was powered straight at goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

Despite not grabbing another win, it was another impressive, hard-working performance from Leicester, while Tottenham still looks to be finding its feet in the 2015-16 campaign.