Leicester boss Ian Holloway just missed out on a home debut win

The on-loan Manchester City stopper spread himself superbly to deny Richard Stearman at point-blank range from Alan Sheehan's first half free-kick.

Peter Whittingham had Cardiff's best chance when the substitute hit the bar.

Leicester dominated the last quarter but Schmeichel again stood firm under a barrage of corners.

Both sides had played, and won, on Saturday and the early signs at the Walkers Stadium pointed to some heavy legs among the players.

The passing in the opening quarter lacked sharpness and both goalkeepers were largely spectators.

But that changed in the 22nd minute when Schmeichel pulled off a stunning point-blank save reminiscent of his father, Peter, at his finest.

Sheehan's swinging free-kick from the left found Stearman sneaking into space in the six-yard box.

A left-foot half-volley seemed destined for the back of the Cardiff net, only for Schmeichel to bounce up and spread-eagle himself brilliantly to bat the ball away.

606: DEBATE What a wonder save by Kasper. proudwolf

Moments later, Marton Fulop was called into action in the Foxes goal, although his save was far more comfortable to gather Steve Thompson's tame back-post header.

Cardiff right wing Paul Parry failed to emerge for the second period having suffered a heavy tackle moments before the break.

But his replacement Whittingham almost made the perfect introduction, with a curling left-foot shot from 20 yards that had Fulop beaten but pinged off the top of the crossbar.

Holloway was also forced into a half-time change with Joe Mattock replaced by Jonathan Hayes.

The new Leicester boss was also not shy in making tactical changes as the second half meandered, sending on youngsters Ashley Chambers and later Andy King in the 62nd minute.

But it was Cardiff who were carving out chances, with a Whittingham free-kick curling wide after bouncing off the Leicester defensive wall.

Then Thompson wasted a good opening, firing tamely along the ground at Fulop with Joe Ledley in a better position to his left.

Back came Leicester and Iain Hume was desperately unlucky not to break the deadlock after 69 minutes, when his shot hit the foot of the post and then somehow rebounded wide off the back of Schmeichel's head.

Then from a series of corners, first Chris Gunter cleared Matt Fryatt's header off the Cardiff line and then Schmeichel was forced to punch clear an in-swinging ball from under his own crossbar.

When the ball rebounded viciously off Peter Capaldi it seemed that an own goal might give Leicester all three points.

But Schmeichel was again alert to the danger, diving low to his right to push the ball round the corner.