Lewis Moody blew his chance to send a message to England coach Andy Robinson when he was yellow-carded as Leicester fought back to earn a draw against Guinness Premiership leaders Sale.

Andy Goode was the hero for Leicester with all of their points as they battled back from a 24-9 deficit at the break to earn a share of the spoils at Welford Road.

Moody was playing his first game since the end of his nine-week ban for fighting with Leicester team-mate Alesana Tuilagi during England's clash with Samoa last November.

The 27-year old flanker was sin-binned in the second minute of first-half injury time for a clumsy challenge on Sale number eight Sebastien Chabal as they challenged for the ball.

Moody did not return in the second half after serving his 10-minute suspension with Luke Abraham taking his place.

Leicester went on to keep an unbeaten record at home in the Premiership that stretches back two years and 21 games thanks to Goode's second-half heroics.

His final kick to level the scores came with five minutes left and meant Charlie Hodgson's contribution of 17 points for the visitors was not enough to secure victory.

Leicester went into the game with eight wins in their last nine outings in all competitions, but handed Sale the initiative with sloppy defending which allowed Dean Schofield and Chris Jones to cross unchallenged for tries and open up a 24-9 half-time lead.

Leicester roared back after the break with Goode kicking five penalties to tie matters with 12 minutes remaining. Hodgson replied two minutes later before Goode restored parity with five minutes left.

Goode had drawn first blood for the home side with a penalty inside the opening minute and he added another and a drop goal to put Leicester 9-6 ahead in the opening quarter with Hodgson kicking Sale's points with two penalties.

The visitors went ahead for the first time after 23 minutes when a spell of heavy forward pressure created the chance for an overlap and Schofield went over in the left-hand corner.

Hodgson's conversion and another penalty opened up a 16-9 lead after 28 minutes and Jones went over for a second try when Leicester's defence was caught napping and short of numbers again six minutes before the break.

Hodgson missed the conversion, but two more penalties found the target to keep the visitors in charge at the break.