Jamie Vardy’s first-half dismissal, and Leicester’s subsequent disciplinary meltdown, did not prevent the defending Premier League champions from collecting what could be a season-changing point at Stoke.
Leicester midfielder Daniel Amartey completed a stunning turnaround for Leicester’s 10 men two minutes from time when he rose between two defenders to head home the equaliser from Christian Fuchs’ cross.
Referee Craig Pawson, widely criticised for his failure to send off Manchester United’s Marcos Rojo in midweek, redressed the balance for that error when he dismissed Vardy for an apparently two-footed challenge on Mame Diouf after 28 minutes.
Ten minutes later, Danny Simpson’s handball gifted Stoke a penalty, and their opening goal for Bojan, before Pawson went on to show yellow cards to the full-back and four other Leicester players in the remaining seven minutes of a combustible first half.
“Pawson was required to exit the pitch via the Leicester supporters, and objects appeared to be thrown in his direction
As Pawson blew the half-time whistle, he was surrounded by furious Leicester players and manager Claudio Ranieri who was hauled away from the official by his staff.
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Leicester coach Mike Stowell was also seen to drag away Islam Slimani, who led the player protests, before the officials were led down the tunnel by security stewards. Unfortunately, Pawson was required to exit the pitch via the Leicester supporters situated in the corner of the ground next to the tunnel, and objects appeared to be thrown in his direction.
It was a flashpoint that is certain to come under FA scrutiny although what will worry Ranieri more is the loss of three more points and a growing concern that his champions are now involved in a relegation contest.
Simpson’s handball, given after he slid in to block a cross from Bojan, allowed the Spaniard to coolly stroke in the opening goal from the spot.
And in first-half added time, a short free kick set up Giannelli Imbula whose thunderous shot struck the foot of the post, and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, before rebounding for Joe Allen to tap into an open goal.
Schmeichel, recalled after an eight-game injury lay-off, had been pressed into action after just five minutes, flinging himself low to keep out Jonathan Walters’ six-yard shot.
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But, in that opening half hour, Leicester looked the more likely goalscorers, especially with Vardy threatening on the counter-attack.
He was involved in an early move which allowed Riyad Mahrez a run at his defender and a low shot well held by Lee Grant before the keeper tipped over Robert Huth’s header.
Slimani got the better of Ryan Shawcross and tested Grant again and a mistake by Erik Pieters gifted the ball to Mahrez who set up Vardy for another chance denied by Grant.
The dismissal soon followed and with it went Leicester’s composure. After Slimani, King, Fuchs and Marc Albrighton all followed Vardy and Simpson into Pawson’s notebook, Leicester’s mood was not helped in the second minute of the second half when Huth, along with Glen Johnson, was also cautioned - the Foxes’ sixth yellow in nine minutes.
The game may have been put completely beyond their reach just before the hour when Diouf’s deep cross found Walters whose goal-bound header was well saved by Schmeichel.
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Leicester, to their credit, halted their decline and ill-discipline as they sought a way back into the contest and, on 73 minutes, substitutes Demarai Gray and Leonardo Ulloa combined to give Ranieri hope when their respective first touches led to a goal.
Gary crossed from the left and Ulloa rose impressively to head goalwards, Shawcross clearing but the goalline technology confirming that the ball had crossed the line.