Tottenham Hotspur’s wait for a first Barclays Premier League win of the season goes on after they threw away a lead for the second match running.
Dele Alli’s 81st-minute header, his first goal for the club since joining them from Milton Keynes Dons, appeared to have sealed all three points at the King Power Stadium against a Leicester City side who had won both of their opening fixtures.
But Tottenham, being Tottenham, managed to hold on to their lead for less than 60 seconds before Riyad Mahrez equalised with a sumptuous effort to ensure his side maintained their unbeaten record.
Tottenham led Stoke by two goals at White Hart Lane last weekend before succumbing to a 2-2 draw and once again their soft centre was exposed.
Daniel Levy, the Tottenham chairman, will surley sanction another couple of transfers before the window closes with the squad looking increasingly thin and Harry Kane the only recognised striker included in the 18.
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Leicester, meanwhile, have few worries. Seven points from their opening three games is a fair return for a team that finished last season in style and have continued to shine under the guidance of Claudio Ranieri, the new manager.
Ranieri gave Gokhan Inler, the new £3 million signing from Napoli, a place on the substitutes’ bench as the “Tinkerman” named an unchanged team after the victory over West Ham United at Upton Park last weekend.
Inler’s arrival and the fabulous atmosphere that greeted the players upon kick-off gave a sign of the progress which has been made at this club since their battle with relegation was won in such style last term.
But while goals have been easy to come by in recent games - 11 in their three before this fixture - Leicester struggled in the opening 45 minutes to find a way past the Tottenham backline.
Marc Albrighton, the former Aston Villa winger, rifled wide from 20 yards while Mahrez’s powerful run into the penalty area was brought to an end by Jan Vertonghen with a forceful challenge.
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Tottenham, deprived of their creative spark by the absence of Christian Eriksen, enjoyed plenty of possession but rarely appeared likely to create a real opportunity.
Eriksen, who injured his knee during training, is so often the fulcrum of Tottenham’s attacking play and his absence left those in white shirts passing from side to side without any real purpose to their play.
It was only in the second half that either team began to really find their feet, although it was Tottenham who created the game’s best opportunity just past the hour mark.
Kane, who scored 31 goals last season, took control on the right side of the penalty area before weaving his way past a couple of defenders and forcing Kasper Schmeichel, the Leicester goalkeeper, into a sharp save.
Leicester responded with an effort of their own when Mahrez fired against the post from a tight angle, though Hugo Lloris, the Tottenham goalkeeper, had his position covered.
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With just over ten minutes of normal time remaining, Inler entered the fray in place of Danny Drinkwater as Leicester went in search of the breakthrough.
But the Swiss had been on the field for only a matter of seconds before the visitors took the lead through Alli - the midfielder diving at the far post to meet Kane’s cross and beat Schmeichel.
That goal appeared to have won the game but Leicester had other ideas and were level less than 60 seconds later when Mahrez netted a spectacular equaliser with a rasping effort which flew past Lloris.
Leicester, with Tottenham rocking, then created a wonderful opportunity to steal the win when Wes Morgan rose highest to meet Mahrez’s left-wing cross but his header was straight at the goalkeeper.
For Leicester, a point gained. For Tottenham, there is work to do.