Declan Rice says West Ham have to "keep believing" after Craig Dawson's injury-time header earned them a crucial point in the fight to finish in the top four against a Leicester side who had looked set to put their recent struggles behind them.

"To get the equaliser at the end was a big point for us considering where we are in the table and where we want to get to," said the Hammers' England midfielder Rice.

West Ham, without controversial defender Kurt Zouma, withdrawn after he felt unwell in the warm-up, had lost their way in the game, but rescued the draw that keeps them a point ahead of Manchester United in fourth when Dawson rose highest to meet a Jarrod Bowen corner and score with a looping header.

"We have to still keep believing," said Rice. "We are around the top four spots now. Many people doubted us this season but we are still positive and a great bunch of lads."

For the hosts, however, it was a tough blow.

The first serious questions were being asked about manager Brendan Rodgers after the FA Cup fourth-round thrashing at Nottingham Forest was followed by defeat at Liverpool.

The Foxes made a slow start and were punished by Bowen's 10th-minute strike. But they were gifted a lifeline right on half-time when Aaron Cresswell needlessly handled James Maddison's corner, Youri Tielemans drilling home the penalty.

Leicester were galvanised and further rewarded for their improvement when Ricardo Pereira headed home a Harvey Barnes cross after 57 minutes, only for Dawson to deny them late in the game.