Stoke City Vs Leicester City: Ben Wilmot Double Denies Rowett Win in 2-2 Draw

Stoke City Vs Leicester City produced a late twist as captain Ben Wilmot scored twice to secure a 2-2 draw at the bet365 Stadium, denying Gary Rowett a winning start as Leicester boss. The result matters because it leaves Leicester inside the Championship relegation zone and extends Stoke's run without a victory.

Development details

The Championship contest finished 2-2 after an eventful afternoon at the bet365 Stadium with an announced attendance of 23, 997. Stoke took an almost immediate lead when Wilmot powered a header in from Aaron Cresswell's cross inside three minutes — a strike described as coming within 150 seconds of kick-off. Leicester responded in the second half: Divine Mukasa's curling effort levelled the match and Harry Winks then put the visitors ahead with a low 18-yard finish following neat build-up play.

With the clock running down, Wilmot met a recycled ball at the far post to poke home an equaliser that was given in the late stages (described in coverage as an 89th-minute leveller in one account and as occurring in the last minute of normal time in another). The final phase of the match saw Leicester mount intense pressure during an extended stoppage period — Ben Nelson's looping header struck the bar and, in the final action of a gripping second half, Luke Thomas somehow hit the foot of the post with a point-blank header. The game also featured a flashpoint around the 70th minute when Sorba Thomas and substitute Luke Thomas clashed and both were booked.

Stoke City Vs Leicester City: how the match unfolded and the immediate escalation

Stoke controlled the opening half through physical play and set-piece threat, creating overlaps down the flanks and threatening from corners. Goalkeeper Tommy Simkin was called into action after a long-range strike from Leicester's captain was pushed over early on, and Stoke squandered further opportunities before the interval.

Leicester emerged much stronger after the break, inspired by 18-year-old midfielder Divine Mukasa, whose left-footed cross drifted in at the far post to draw his side level and who then played a key role in setting up Winks for the go-ahead goal. Gary Rowett, appointed to the job midweek, saw his first match end without the victory that would have taken Leicester out of the relegation zone. The club has launched an appeal against a six-point deduction that contributed to its league position, and the new manager has been brought in until the end of the campaign.

Immediate impact

The draw has immediate consequences for both clubs. Stoke extended a winless stretch to seven matches across competitions, a run that has seen them drop down the Championship table and struggle for consistency; the home side's manager highlighted the squad's need for returning injured players to add quality and depth. For Leicester, the failure to pick up three points meant they remained in the relegation places, unable to arrest a poor run of results in time to move clear.

Individual repercussions were clear: Wilmot now adds two goals in this match to his season tally — the early header was noted as his second league goal of the campaign and the late finish described as his third in one account of events — while Mukasa notched his second goal in three league outings and also provided a key assist. The match also left lingering what-ifs for Leicester, who hit the frame of the goal twice in stoppage time and were left to rue missed chances.

Forward outlook

Confirmed near-term milestones are procedural rather than fixture-related in the available detail. Leicester's appeal against a six-point deduction remains active, and the club's new manager has been appointed until the season's end, both developments carrying clear implications for the remainder of the campaign. Stoke's immediate priorities include ending a seven-match winless run and addressing injury absences identified by the manager as limiting the squad's options.

What makes this notable is how quickly momentum shifted: Stoke's set-piece potency dictated the first half, while Leicester's second-half response and late pressure produced a dramatic finale that still failed to convert into the three points Rowett sought in his opening fixture.