Aston Villa's sequence without a win was extended to 10 games as Leicester City fought back from a two-goal deficit to salvage a point from a thrilling Premiership encounter at Filbert Street.

John Gregory's side finally looked as if they were going to finally improve on their dreadful run of two points out of 27 which had seen them slip from title contenders to also-rans in the battle for a UEFA Cup spot.

Lee Hendrie's opener after 79 seconds gave them the perfect start and the contest looked all over when former Leicester striker Julian Joachim doubled the lead four minutes into the second period.

The Foxes refused to buckle as befits any side under the management of Martin O'Neill but it was not just blood and guts which brought them back into the game.

They knocked the ball around in style with man of the match Neil Lennon and Andrew Impey driving them forward from midfield.

Striker Emile Heskey looked sharp and as if he had finally recovered from the effects of his back injury which has hampered his performances in recent months.

Robbie Savage gave Leicester a lifeline by halving the deficit and then king goal-poacher Tony Cottee grabbed an equaliser that had looked increasingly on the cards for O'Neill's battlers.

Villa will reflect on another step forward in the context of their recent dreadful run against a side they have not beaten since Leicester returned to the Premiership three years ago.

Hendrie was busy in midfield and the pace of Joachim always threatened to trouble the home defence.

But they will still be kicking themselves for letting slip a two-goal advantage and in the end they were relieved to hang on for a share of the spoils.

Villa had showed the first signs of stopping the rot in Friday's home goalless draw with West Ham - and Hendrie gave them the perfect start.

Joachim sent in a low cross and danger loomed for the Foxes after a slip by central defender Matt Elliott.

Dion Dublin pounced on the loose ball only to be dispossessed by Impey but again the ball broke loose to Hendrie who scored with a left-footed effort at the far post.

Leicester quickly retaliated and almost got back on level terms in bizarre fashion when Alan Wright tried to clear when under pressure from Cottee.

The ball bounced back off Villa skipper Gareth Southgate towards the unguarded goal but to the relief of the England defender it flew inches past the post.

Villa tried to make constant use of the pace of Joachim with Leicester 'keeper Kasey Keller saving at his feet on one occasion and then Frank Sinclair making a vital tackle.

Leicester overcame the early blow with Heskey looking sharp upfront and Lennon spaying the ball around effectively in the centre of the park.

They came close to equalising when a free-kick from Steve Guppy picked out Cottee at the far post but he sent his header into the side netting.

Villa had a let-off in the 30th minute when a Guppy corner was volleyed in powerful fashion from the edge of the area by Sinclair and it cannoned to safety off the body of Mark Bosnich who knew little about it.

Both sides played neat football in a game devoid of fear with Leicester relatively safe after their recent revival and Villa's European dreams virtually over after last week's ruling by UEFA.

But four minutes into the second half Villa gave themselves breathing space with Joachim striking against his former colleagues in a well-worked move.

Alan Wright's inswinging corner picked out Ian Taylor and he headed the ball back across the six yard box to Joachim who spun sharply to fire past Keller.

Leicester still refused to buckle with Lennon continuing to drive them on from midfield.

Bosnich parried one shot from the Northern Ireland international around the post and then finger-tipped over an effort from a narrow angle by Heskey.

But the Foxes gave themselves a lifeline in the 63rd minute via a superb piece of finishing from Savage.

Guppy played a long ball over the Villa defence and Savage outstripped Alan Wright and, with Bosnich off his line, he chipped the Australian number one to perfection.

Then in the 71st minute Leicester deservedly got back on level terms via Tony Cottee's 200th goal in top flight football.

Cottee had scored his 200th league goal at Tottenham on Saturday - but one of that tally had been in the First Division with Birmingham.

But his double century at the highest level came courtesy of a cross from Guppy.

Cottee stooped to send his header past Bosnich into the corner of the net.

Teams:

Leicester: Keller, Ullathorne, Sinclair, Elliott, Impey, Gunnlaugsson (Miller 59), Lennon, Savage, Guppy, Heskey, Cottee.

Subs Not Used: Arphexad, Kaamark, Marshall, Zagorakis.

Booked: Sinclair, Elliott, Guppy.

Goals: Savage 63, Cottee 71.

Aston Villa: Bosnich, Watson (Barry 75), Southgate, Calderwood, Wright, Hendrie, Stone, Taylor, Draper, Dublin, Joachim.

Subs Not Used: Merson, Oakes, Vassell, Delaney.

Booked: Calderwood, Draper.

Goals: Hendrie 2, Joachim 49.

Att: 20,652

Ref: S Lodge (Barnsley).