Spurs 1 City 2
Match Report by Colin Hall
A mishit volley by Jeff Schlupp deep into stoppage time gave Leicester City an unlikely victory at Premier League giants Tottenham in a FA Cup 4th round clash. The Foxes had trailed for much of the game, but a late Leonardo Ulloa strike brought them back on terms before Schlupp’s dramatic finale provoked ecstatic scenes among the 4000-strong visiting contingent.
Nigel Pearson rang the changes before the game, as Hamer, Wasilewski, Konchesky, Knockaert and Nugent were all demoted to the bench, with Schwarzer, Moore, De Laet, Ulloa and Kramaric brought in as replacements.
Meanwhile, the hosts, facing a demanding run of fixtures in four separate competitions made no fewer than nine changes to the side that started their previous fixture.
City started strongly and both Kramaric (making his first start in English football) and Schlupp were denied early on by fine saves from home keeper Vorm.
However, Spurs took the lead against the run of play after 19 minutes when Soldado fell to the ground after a challenge from Moore in the area. Referee Madley instantly pointed to the spot, from which Townsend duly despatched the penalty for his second goal in successive games.
The home side dominated possession for long spells during the rest of the opening half, but the City defence stood firm, despite Moore sustaining an injury during another clash with Soldado which led to him being replaced by Wasilewski.
As in previous games, the Foxes were being outnumbered and outmuscled in central midfield, but one moment of quality from Drinkwater almost brought about an equaliser.
His superb through ball sent Kramaric through on goal, only for the striker to be brought down by Vorm. To the fury of the visiting hordes, the referee – whose view of the incident was somewhat distant – judged no contact had taken place and booked Kramaric for diving.
As tempers frayed both on and off the field in the aftermath of this incident, Wasilewski elbowed Soldado just yards away from a linesman. The defender’s rushes of blood have been a regular feature of his career in England, as James Vaughan and Saido Berahino (among others) will testify.
On this occasion, though, Madley chose to err on the side of leniency by issuing a yellow card when a more stringent punishment might have ensued. This would ultimately turn out to be his most significant decision of the afternoon.
The second half saw the game far more evenly balanced, with chances flowing freely at both ends. Spurs pushed forward in search of a second goal which may well have been a killer blow, while City sought to exploit the pace of Schlupp and Vardy on the flanks.
For once, setpieces formed a real threat for the visitors, with outswinging corners producing chances for Wasilewski, Ulloa and King, but none were quite able to find the finishing touch. At the other end, Schwarzer produced agility defying his 42 years to deny a fierce drive, while Paulinho wasted a glorious opportunity to settle the game when heading wide from close range.
The Foxes made full use of that reprieve, forcing a corner within seconds, from which sub Albrighton’s low cross somehow passed through a crowded box before reaching Schlupp, whose driven cross-shot was controlled and then fired home by Ulloa.
At this stage, many teams may have chosen to see out the closing minutes in the hope of taking their chance in a home replay. This City side, though, had higher ambitions. They looked to settle the tie at the first time of asking – and this endeavour brought its reward.
Simpson, making a rare foray to the home by-line, delivered a cross of some quality which Schlupp met first-time. Although his shot lacked the power seen in some of his previous efforts, its flight bamboozled Vorm and eluded his despairing grasp.
It was too late for Spurs to mount any effective response and the final whistle brought jubilant celebrations among the travelling Foxes, many of whom endured several fruitless trips to London earlier in the season.
With shocks elsewhere resulting in the elimination of several leading contenders, the belief that this could be our year in the FA Cup has risen sharply. The result also banishes once and for all the notion – advanced online by at least one national correspondent – that City will be considering a change of manager before the end of the season.
In addition, if this squad can reproduce the tenacity, hunger and determination – qualities that served them so well at this venue – on a more regular basis, there is reason to believe that the battle against relegation from the top flight will not be fought in vain.
Tottenham (4-3-2-1) : Vorm; Chiriches, Fazio, Kaboul, Rose; Capoue, Dembele (Kane 87), Paulinho (Eriksen 63); Townsend, Lamela; Soldado (Adebayor 71).Subs not used: Friedel, Davies, Dier, Stambouli.
Scorer: Townsend (pen 19)
Leicester (4-2-3-1): Schwarzer; Simpson, Moore (Wasilewski 26), Morgan, De Laet; Drinkwater, King; Vardy (Albrighton 72), Kramaric (Nugent 72), Schlupp; Ulloa. Subs not used: Hamer, Konchesky, Cambiasso, Knockaert.
Scorers: Ulloa (83), Schlupp (90 + 2)
Booked: Moore, Kramaric, Wasilewski, Ulloa.
Ref: Robert Madley Att: 35,548
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