Leicester’s hold on third place in the Premier League table is under no immediate threat but the loss of momentum that was causing some anxiety before the break in the fixtures has not been restored by some time in the sun. Wolves were the more tenacious side for much of the evening and will feel they should have won, especially after the eagle eyes at VAR headquarters denied Wily Boly’s headed goal by another of those zoom lens offsides that so infuriate those on the wrong end. Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers will take some positives from his side’s success in keeping their clean sheet after Hamza Choudhury’s 78th-minute red card but it was a chance missed to go above Manchester City and one win in five in the Premier League, either side of a missed opportunity in the Carabao Cup, leaves him with problems to resolve. News of the Champions League ban on Manchester City has potential implications for both these teams should the consequence is qualification for the team finishing fifth in the Premier League, even though Leicester are looking to finish higher. For Wolves, another crack at the Europa League may become more attainable as a knock-on effect. This fixture has a reputation for producing goals, at least when they have met in the Premier League. It finished 4-3 to Wolves last season, a repeat of the scoreline of the previous top-flight meeting at Molineux, in 2003. It soon looked likely there would be more goals. Youri Tielemans gave Rui Patricio an early sharpener with a well-struck low shot from outside the box but the response from the home side was full of intent too. Pedro Neto, in for Adama Traore on the right of the Wolves front three with the Spanish flyer on the bench after his shoulder injury, battled away tenaciously to make progress on the right, cutting inside and looking up to see Raul Jimenez and Diogo Jota breaking on the left. He found Jota, who scored a hat-trick against Leicester in last season’s goalfest. Jota had plenty of goal to aim and chose the right angle, but Kasper Schmeichel stuck out a leg to save. Leicester had been quickest out of the traps but as the first half evolved the more consistent threat was coming from Wolves, who unsettled their opponents into giving away free kicks in dangerous territory. Ruben Neves failed to beat the wall with one that looked made for him. Leicester were unchanged from the side that drew at home to Chelsea before the winter break, still lacking Wilfred Ndidi’s protective presence in midfield. There was a collective shakiness in front of Schmeichel, who did not help his colleagues by clearing the ball straight to Neto. Happily for the Danish goalkeeper, control eluded the Portuguese and his attempt to take advantage turned into a horrible slice. Soon afterwards, Jimenez was somehow left completely unmarked as Jonny delivered a cross from the left, but he headed the chance wastefully wide. Then came the latest VAR controversy, Wily Boly’s header in from a well-choreographed set piece routine ruled out by a remotely determined offside against the left foot of Jota as he received Neto’s short corner, rendering null and void Neto’s cross to the far post and Matt Doherty’s header back across goal. The remaining minute or so of the first half played out to the accompaniment of sustained booing from the home crowd, whose chant lamented that “it ain’t football any more”. As the players left the field, Conor Coady, the Wolves captain, could be seen pleading with referee Mike Dean for an explanation. The official’s response was to point to his earpiece. Leicester needed to find a way to make the most of their good fortune. As in the first half, they started on the front foot. Ricardo Pereira, the full back, looked momentarily like a striker as he snaked into the penalty area on the right but his finish flashed wide. Then Hamza Choudhury handed Wolves another free kick, right on the edge of the box as he brought Jimenez down. Neves gave way to Romain Saiss this time but the result was the same as Leicester’s wall did its job. As the match entered its final third, it seemed one goal in isolation might be enough to produce a winner. A VAR check again favoured Leicester as James Maddison’s barge into Saiss came under scrutiny, although it looked a tenuous claim. Looking for someone to make something happen, Nuno sent on Traore for Neto. Little changed, however. The action varied between scrappy and frantic. Leicester drew back to defend after Choudhury, already booked for the foul on Jimenez, lost his footing and brought down Leander Dendoncker as he stretched for the ball. Wolves could find no way through.