Leicester City Manager Steve Cooper Claims Team Only Deserved A Point Against Everton

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Leicester City manager Steve Cooper acknowledged that a draw was a fair result after their 1-1 match against Everton in the Premier League. The team from East Midlands has yet to secure a victory in their first five games, with three draws and two losses. Stephy Mavididi equalised at the King Power Stadium after Iliman Ndiaye scored for Everton in the 12th minute.

Cooper admitted that Leicester's first-half performance was lacking, with only one shot on target and an expected goals figure of just 0.15. "We were nowhere near the level first half, I won't hide away from that. We were deservedly losing the game, and we were second best in the fundamentals," he told BBC MOTD.

The players recognised the need for improvement during halftime, and they responded accordingly. "The boys stuck to the task in the second half and got themselves together and didn't go under," Cooper noted. Leicester managed to level the score through a set-piece but couldn't find a winner despite their efforts.

Everton also remain winless but earned their first point of the season by securing this draw. Manager Sean Dyche expressed optimism about his team's progress following the match. "It was a positive display. There have been question marks around us not winning, but we have got our nose in front and I thought we delivered a good performance," he said.

Despite taking early leads, Everton have struggled to maintain them, dropping more points from winning positions than any other Premier League team in 2024 (18 points). Dyche remains hopeful about their development, stating, "I look at it as it is. There are positive signs that we are moving closer to the way we want to play."

A Historic Fixture for Draws

This fixture holds a record for draws in Premier League history, with 17 out of 35 matches ending without a winner—a proportion unmatched by any fixture played over 30 times (49%). Despite this trend, both teams showed determination to change their fortunes.

Dyche remains focused on building his squad's capabilities: "We are still moulding a group together that can do what we want to do, so it is a constant work in progress." His belief in positive signs suggests confidence in future improvements.