Ruud van Nistelrooy applauds the Leicester fans after the draw at Brighton
Ruud van Nistelrooy was spared defeat in his first home game as Leicester manager
It is now 22 matches unbeaten for Ruud van Nistelrooy in this new chapter of his career as a manager, and he is clinging onto that record like a barnacle to a boat.
Van Nistelrooy’s proud sequence stretches back to his final months in the Eredivisie at PSV Eindhoven, to the four-game audition with Manchester United and now his latest assignment in the East Midlands.
As Brighton supporters chanted about future tours in the Champions League, Leicester responded with two goals in the final four minutes to rescue their new manager an unlikely point.
For long periods, Van Nistelrooy was provided with an early indicator of why Leicester are struggling, and why avoiding relegation this season should be the only focus.
When Brighton eased to a two-goal lead, it was no more than they deserved. Tariq Lamptey’s brilliant goal and a late individual effort from substitute Yankuba Minteh had temporarily hoisted Brighton into fifth-place.
But the battling qualities Van Nistelrooy will desperately need were evident in the final stages. Leicester’s talisman Jamie Vardy sparked the comeback before teeing up the equaliser for substitute Bobby De Cordova-Reid.
The Ruud factor is working for Leicester.