Substitute, Kelechi Iheanacho fired Leicester to a 1-0 victory at Midlands rivals, Walsall to secure a Fifth Round place in 2022-23 FA Cup.
Iheanacho came on as a substitute and curled in via Brandon Comley’s 68th minute deflection to gift Leicester a narrow victory, just like he did earlier this month albeit as a starter in their Third Round winner at Gillingham.
In a competitive high-tempo contest, Leicester dominated amidst a series of frustrating wasted chances as Patson Daka saw several shots go begging.
Youri Tielemans meanwhile saw a 48th minute penalty hit the left post but Iheanacho’s strike saw Brendan Rogers’ Foxes secure their spot in the Fifth Round draw, which takes place on Monday 30 January at 7pm GMT, as part of BBC One’s The One Show.
Despite having seen their two recent home games postponed due to a frozen pitch, Walsall enjoyed a quick start which drew scrappy fouls within the Leicester box – yet referee, Gavin Ward refused to dish out a penalty.
Rogers’ Foxes however were able to weather that early storm and soon began to impose themselves upon the game, as Daka put two headers from crosses by Timothy Castagne wide in the opening 20 minutes.
Tom Knowles meanwhile quickly proved to be Walsall’s early threat as he forced a 11th minute save from Daniel Iversen, as well as a 15th minute clearance by Wout Faes, as both teams battled hard in an end-to-end contest.
Leicester eventually began to dominate in attack after the opening 20 minutes as Harvey Barnes and Faes both saw chances denied, before Daka latched onto Castagne’s low 28th minute pass but saw his first shot blocked only to fire his second shot wide across the face of goal.
Youri Tielemans and James Maddison then both wasted their own chances, before Daka rifled a 36th minute shot wide as he spun on the turn inside the box in a frustrating first-half display from the 24 year-old.
Walsall however clung on defensively to keep themselves in the game at half-time as Knowles rifled a rebound shot wide in the 33rd minute, after a free-kick had been cleared following Nampalys Mendy’s foul on Jacob Maddox.
Leicester however upped their intensity immediately after the break and Daka drew a 47th minute foul from Isaac Hutchinson just inside the box, which referee – Ward deemed a penalty after advice from the Assistant Referee to overturn his initial free-kick decision.
Tielemans stepped up but the Belgian midfielder could only find the left post with his strike despite goalkeeper, Owen Evans diving correctly to his right side.
Defender, Hayden White then blocked three corner-kicks in the 53rd minute before Evans made crucial blocks as he first denied Barnes, only to then block Tielemans’ long-range strike and Daka’s rebound shot in quick succession.
Walsall’s resolute defence ultimately was breached in the 68th minute as substitute, Iheanacho picked up Mendy’s pass and calmly curled in via deflection of Brandon Comley and inside of the bar beyond Evans’ reach.
Walsall immediately attempted to respond two minutes later but Iversen was alert to save Conor Wilkinson’s header from White’s cross.
Both teams thereafter traded chances throughout as Iheanacho saw a 85th minute chance to double Leicester’s lead denied by Evans.
Walsall substitute, Ronan Maher two minutes later saw his header saved by Iversen and the Foxes eventually clung on to clinch victory against their Midlands rivals, thus avoiding a cupset to secure their Fifth Round place.
What’s Next?
Walsall now turn their attention to Tuesday’s trip to Salford City in a 7:45pm GMT kick-off, in their battle to qualify for League Two play-offs.
Leicester meanwhile visit Aston Villa at Villa Park in another Midlands derby – albeit this time in the Premier League on Saturday 4 February at 3pm GMT.
Teams
Walsall: Owen Evans, Hayden White, Donervon Daniels, Joe Low, Tom Knowles, Brandon Comley (James-Taylor 74′), Isaac Hutchinson (Songo’o 62′), Liam Gordon, Robbie Wilmott (Maher 80′), Andy Williams (Wilkinson 62′), Jacob Maddox (Allen 80′)
Substitutes: Joe Riley, Conor Wilkinson, Jackson Smith, Douglas James-Taylor, Oisin McEntee, Taylor Allen, Ronan Maher, Yann Songo’o
Leicester: Daniel Iversen, Timothy Castagne, Daniel Amartey, Wout Faes, Luke Thomas (Kristiansen 63′), Youri Tielemans, Nampalys Mendy, Kieran Dewsbury-Hall, James Maddison (Praet 63′), Harvey Barnes, Patson Daka (Iheanacho 63′)
Substitutes: Caglar Souyuncu, Marc Albrighton, Alex Smithies, Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Kristiansen, Jannik Vestergaard, Dennis Praet, Lewis Brunt, Sammy Braybrooke
Referee: Gavin Ward