Leicester 1-1 Everton: Toffees throw away ANOTHER lead after Stephy Mavididi equaliser but hold on for first point of the season

Sean Dyche had seen this film before – and although the ending was slightly better than his last two sittings, the Everton boss will be sick to death of the same old storyline.

For a third successive game, the Toffees started in style, took the lead but then retreated, invited pressure and eventually threw away the win. What could have been three wins – which would have them seventh in the table – has transpired as a single point on the board.

Stephy Mavididi struck a 74th-minute equaliser to cancel out Iliman Ndiaye’s early opener in what was a rain-soaked, scrappy affair at the King Power Stadium that prompted boos from all four corners.

It got Everton off the mark after four straight defeats but as Dyche and Steve Cooper shook hands at full-time, one got the sense that the draw had not helped either of them much. Still, for two managers under pressure, it was better than another defeat.

It was a loss at Leicester in 2019 that put one of the final nails in the coffin of Marco Silva at Everton – the now Fulham boss was sacked less than a week after that match – so the omens were not great for Dyche as he came here in desperate need of a reaction from his team.

The setting was one of pathetic fallacy, too. For those who cannot remember their English literature course, that is where the weather matches the mood: the King Power Stadium was surrounded by dark skies as troubling storms spread across the country.

Both bosses here looked like drowned rats when the rain poured down in torrential fashion. Since the famous ‘Wally with a brolly’ tag that followed Steve McClaren around after his England sacking, managers would rather get wet than give the headline writers a chance.

Dyche and Cooper were both under mounting pressure from their respective fanbases after going into this game with zero wins on the table. In just week five of the still-young season, this felt like a genuine six-pointer.

But it was Everton who got off to the better start and they could have taken the lead after four minutes. The effervescent Ndiaye combined with Dwight McNeil down the left and chipped the ball into the path of an unmarked Jesper Lindstrom, who volleyed a shot wide.

It was only the fourth minute but felt like a big miss for a team who have so often been unable to turn chances into goals across the Dyche era. Minutes later, though, they did find the back of the net through some scintillating work from Ndiaye.

The summer signing has been just what Everton have been missing: a difference-maker who can turn nothing moments into genuine opportunities. Ndiaye was being tightly marked but wriggled past two challenges before unleashing a shot into the goal off the near post.

Everton, of course, have been here before – taking the lead meant little for a team who have squandered two-goal advantages in both of their previous two league games. But if anywhere was the place to get over their psychological demons, low-on-confidence Leicester might be it.

The Toffees continued to have the better of the play, although England No 1 Jordan Pickford had a heart-in-mouth moment as he fumbled what should have been an easy catch on the goal-line. Given the downpour of rain, he had a fair excuse for the potential blunder.

Loanee Lindstrom, at the club for the season from Napoli, had two further opportunities to score either side of half-time. First, the 24-year-old Dane miscued a shot over the crossbar and then he got caught in two minds whether to pass to Ndiaye or not when running through on goal.

Leicester, meanwhile, saw a lot of the ball but rarely called Pickford into action. Jordan Ayew saw an acrobatic effort go over the bar while Jamie Vardy was inches away from controlling a pass in the penalty area. If he did, you would have backed the veteran striker to score.

Defender Caleb Okoli squandered a clear-cut chance on 68 minutes but looped a header high and wide from five yards. It felt like the Foxes were knocking on the door and Everton’s defence was finally breached on 74 minutes.

It was a scrappy goal to say the least, fitting given the stormy conditions, as Mavididi pounced on a loose ball in the six-yard box from a Harry Winks corner to score. Everton defenders pointed fingers at each other – it was a very preventable goal.

Judging by the gestures of Dyche’s right-hand man Ian Woan in stoppage time as Pickford collected a long ball – his arms outstretched pointing to the floor to slow proceedings – Everton were rather satisfied with a point.

They had the better of the chances for the majority of the match but, as they know better than anyone after capitulating from 2-0 up in the 87th minute three weeks ago, that means little if you do not perform for 90 minutes plus additional time.

Leicester had chances to win the match, notably when substitute Facundo Buonanotte saw a venomous volley well blocked by James Tarkowski, but could not find another opening. Given they were losing for the majority of this match, Cooper might have been the more satisfied boss.

But in truth, neither manager could be truly happy with this result. On the ground of football’s greatest ever fairytale, it felt like both of these clubs need a bit of magic to get out of their respective ruts and achieve their dreams this season.