Villa 2 City 1
Report by Colin Hall
Leicester City's quest for a first-ever FA Cup is over for another season following a 5th round defeat at Aston Villa.
Goals by Bacuna and Manchester City loanee Sinclair proved enough to give the home side victory, much to the disappointment of the 6000+ travelling Foxes, who were left frustrated and distraught after yet another below-standard away performance.
With Upson having recovered surprisingly quickly from the knock that had forced him off in midweek, City made just one change from the side that started at Arsenal, as Wasilewski was recalled in place of the cuptied Huth.
However, while the 5-4-1/3-5-2 formation had proved to be relatively effective on that occasion, it proved to be rather less so at Villa Park. The notoriously goal-shy hosts, under caretaker management, opted to pack the midfield and deny City space.
The result was a turgid, dreary first-half which made grim viewing for those in the stands as well as those watching from their armchairs, though City did manage the best two efforts of the opening 45 minutes – a Wasilewski header which brushed the outside of a post and a James drive well saved by Given.
Villa – perhaps boosted by some inspiring words from their incoming manager – stepped up the pace after the interval. Delph sent a header just over the bar, while Benteke was blocked at point-blank range by Schwarzer. City's midfield, barely functioning for long spells throughout the game, was particularly ineffective during this period, leaving Kramaric even more isolated as the lone striker.
As many of the visiting hordes loudly demanded the introduction of Ulloa, the manager obliged after 65 minutes – though his decision to withdraw Wasilewski in favour of the striker appeared somewhat questionable.
It proved to be even more so just minutes later, as Bacuna advanced on the City goal with defenders in full retreat. With no Wasilewski to close him down, the Villa midfielder was able to line up and execute a curling shot which gave his side the lead.
In such a tense, dour encounter, the opening goal was always likely to be of huge significance and so it proved here. Although Ulloa and Kramaric were both denied by Given as City pressed forward in search of the equaliser, the defence often looked vulnerable to breaks from the home side. Meanwhile the substitutions which had brought such rewards at Tottenham in the previous round were curiously not deployed.
The killer blow came in the dying minutes as sub Sinclair chased a long ball. Although Upson managed to force him wide, his shot was fumbled into the net by Schwarzer to extend the home side's lead and turn the mood of the visiting fans even more toxic.
Although Kramaric managed to reduce the arrears with an excellent header in stoppage time, the damage had already been done. Once again, the manager's judgement had been called into question. Why should a 42-year-old have been preferred to a keeper that had conceded just once from open play in his previous five appearances?
City thus succumbed to their fourth successive defeat, and potentially the most damaging. With form and confidence in shreds, it is exceedingly difficult to see how the current regime can bring about improvements needed for a miraculous escape from relegation.
Villa (4-5-1): Given: Hutton, Clark, Vlaar (c), Cissokho; Bacuna (Sinclair 77), Cleverley, Westwood, Delph, Weimann (Grealish 83); Benteke. Subs not used: Guzan, Okore, Cole, Sanchez, Lowton.
Goals: Bacuna 68, Sinclair 90
City (5-4-1): Schwarzer; Simpson, Wasilewski (Ulloa 65), Morgan (c), Upson, Konchesky; Mahrez, Cambiasso, James, Schlupp; Kramarić. Subs not used: Hammond, Vardy, King, Albrighton, Hamer, Moore.
Goal: Kramarić 90+1
Bookings: Konchesky, Simpson
Attendance: 28,098 Referee: Mark Clattenburg
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation