Leicester battled through to the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 3-1 victory over Derby in extra time. Superb goals from Demarai Gray and Onyinye Ndidi brought cheer to the King Power for the first time in weeks.

 

 

Both teams rang the changes for the replay, 18 overall, further suggesting the disappearing magic of the FA Cup. Neither team’s star strikers Jamie Vardy and Darren Bent made the squads and showed in a lacklustre first half with little excitement. Ikechi Anya was one of few on the pitch that created any chances with dangerous crosses for Derby County. Yet decision making in the last third demonstrated the lack of depth in the teams squads. Leicester’s only chance in the first half came when Demarai Gray wipped a ball across the five yard box that Ahmed Musa came only a stride away from contacting with. Despite this a penalty could have easily come the Foxes’ way when Ben Chilwell seemed to be shoved in the back by Derby Captain Richard Keogh.

The second half began in contrast in the first with a goal within a minute. Good play from Bartosz Kapustka allowed Gray to whip a deep cross to the back post, where Marc Albrighton headed back to Andy King who couldn’t miss from two yards out. Leicester dominated possession trying to take the sting out of the game, yet a free kick on the edge of the box resulted in a goal 15 minutes later. Abdoul Camara hit a fierce strike from a rolled pass from the free kick, hitting Leicester left back Chilwell on the knee and giving Zieler no chance.

 

 

The championship promotion hopefuls came back into the game, with substitute Johnny Russell curling a shot into Zielers arms. The game drifed back to its first half contest with few chances. Albrington had a header drift past far post, but Claudio Ranieri would have felt aggrieved when Derby’s 22 year old keeper Jonathan Mitchell handled Musa flick past him outside the area. However, it seemed the referee and linesman’s view was not clear. The game drifted into extra time, but could have been very different when a hopeful cross led to Max Lowe chested against his own post instead of out for a corner.

Last year’s Premier league winners urgency and tempo at the end of regular time continued into extra time as four minutes in, substitutes Riyad Mahrez and Onyinye Ndidi teamed up for the latter to release a fierce left footed strike past Mitchell, hitting the post as it went in. The home team’s dominance showed when Keogh nearly gave away a penalty again when he took away Islam Slimani leg before he could turn to fire towards goal. Minutes later though, the striker had a chance to score when good running from Gray presented the Alergian missed from two yards out.

Derby replied with pressure of their own, Russell glancing a header wide yet former Birmingham player Gray stole the show seven minutes before time with a superb solo run past two Rams players and side footed into the roof of the net.

Claudio Ranieri will hope this starts momentum for the struggling team with Swansea awaiting at the weekend, while Millwall are next in the fifth round of the FA Cup.