Ademola Lookman – Fortunebets

Ademola Lookman kept Leicester dreaming in Europe after a gutsy draw with Roma.

The striker’s ninth goal of the season will send the Foxes to the Stadio Olimpico for their Europa Conference League semi-final second leg next week locked at 1-1.

Brendan Rodgers’ side gave themselves a fighting chance in Italy after a spirited display, despite Lorenzo Pellegrini’s first-half opener.

They bossed Roma for long spells and will feel they can reach next month’s final in Tirana.

However, Leicester will be frustrated with a draw having started well, only to let their guard down once in the first half.

Jamie Vardy’s 19-minute cameo in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Aston Villa allowed him to stretch his legs and his threat was evident inside the first two minutes.

Chris Smalling slipped under pressure from the striker, forcing Gianluca Mancini to clear behind the first of a flurry of Leicester corners.

From one, a stretching Timothy Castagne headed wide at the far post but Leicester’s bright opening was halted when Roma grabbed the lead after 15 minutes.

Nicolo Zaniolo’s crossfield pass found Nicola Zalewski and he was allowed to run unchallenged and slip in Pellegrini.

The captain had darted behind Wesley Fofana and, with Youri Tielemans failing to track him, fired his fourth goal in eight European matches this season through Kasper Schmeichel’s legs.

The Foxes lost Castagne, replaced by James Justin, to injury soon after and they briefly lost their way as Roma grew into the contest.

Yet the Foxes rediscovered their bite and Lookman twice stretched the visitors. First, Smalling expertly blocked Lookman’s shot before coming to the rescue of Rui Patricio after 34 minutes.

Lookman, this time on the edge of the area, again found space with Patricio parrying his drive and the goalkeeper needed Smalling to quickly clear ahead of a lurking Vardy.

Former Manchester United defender Smalling then clattered Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – again excellent for the Foxes – only for James Maddison’s free kick to hit the wall.

Maddison curled over five minutes before the break and the theme continued in the second half with Lookman completely miscuing a header over from six yards.

But the on-loan RB Leipzig forward had been the Foxes biggest threat and Roma’s resolve finally broke after 67 minutes.

Substitute Harvey Barnes made an instant impact as Roger Ibanez tried to cut out his pass into the area, only to play the ball straight back to the winger.

Barnes took full advantage and crossed for Lookman to bundle in from close range.

Buoyant Leicester looked for a second and Kelechi Iheanacho headed over under pressure while Maddison ramped up his influence.

The Foxes – by far the better side – kept their cool as they searched for openings and Patricio needed to turn Iheanacho’s curling effort wide after Tielemans robbed Bryan Cristante.

Yet they were almost undone with 10 minutes left after brilliant footwork and strength from Tammy Abraham teed up Sergio Oliveira and Schmeichel turned his effort behind.

Fulham’s first home Premier League victory since November took them within three points of 17th-placed Newcastle as they held on to win 1-0 against rock-bottom Sheffield United.

Ademola Lookman broke the deadlock for the Cottagers in the 61st minute, with the home side going on to secure only their fourth win of the season.

Scott Parker’s men went into the game six points adrift of Newcastle but have closed the gap to just three, ahead of the Magpies’ trip to Manchester United on Sunday

Sheffield United, rooted to the foot of the table, struggled to really trouble in-form Fulham.

The game started quickly from both sides, with the noise from the dugouts adding to the tension of what seemed a must-win game

The Blades looked more dangerous from set-pieces, but Fulham, as has been the case on many occasions this season, struggled to really test Aaron Ramsdale in the United goal.

Chris Wilder’s men were penned back into their own half for much of the opening 45 minutes, but defended resolutely, with a number of well-timed trips in the midfield preventing Fulham from building up momentum.

Fulham’s stand-in captain in the long-term absence of Tom Cairney, Joachim Andersen was a commanding presence at the back, not only in organising the defence but with his well-weighted long balls to the front players.

Harrison Reed had a shot from distance straight at Ramsdale, with the goalkeeper also in the right place to deny Lookman.

United went into the half-time break without a touch or attempt in the Fulham box but were doing a good job of defending their own, and got men behind the ball to break up the home side’s attacks.

At the start of the second half, Ruben Loftus-Cheek came close to giving the home side the lead when he weaved his way through the United defence before his goal-bound shot hit Ramsdale’s outstretched leg and was cleared off the line by George Baldock.

Lookman put the hosts ahead just after the hour mark with his fourth goal of the season, and his second against the Blades.

The 23-year-old worked his way into the area from the left-hand side before firing a low drive past Ramsdale and into the back of the net.

Less than five minutes later, the visitors had their first shot on target, with Alphonse Areola just denying Enda Stevens with his legs in a one-on-one situation.

United had a penalty shout in the final minutes of the game, when Areola dived out to deny Jayden Bogle. The goalkeeper put his body on the line and just managed to get a touch on the ball before the collision.