The struggling Premier League Champions will look to salvage a bit of pride and hopefully gain some momentum before the weekend where they will desperately need to win. Leicester have faltered badly in their quest to retain the title and are facing a possible relegation dogfight which has come as a shock to the fans and everyone associated with the club. While a similar run as last year was out of the question, they were expected to finish in and around Top 8. The star players have failed to perform and the new signings haven’t had the impact which was expected of them.
Coming back to the crucial replay, Leicester will be thanking Wes Morgan for salvaging a draw and giving them the opportunity to progress further. Derby striker Darren Bent put the Premier League champions ahead when he scuffed a clearance into his own net while under no pressure trying to clear a corner. However, the former England forward made up for that when he headed Will Hughes’ cross into the right net to level the scores.
Craig Bryson put Championship side, Derby, ahead when he picked the ball up 25 yards out, surged past three Foxes defenders and fired the ball across Kasper Schmeichel with a slight deflection off Robert Huth. Leicester, who hit the post through Demarai Gray, looked as if they were heading out of the cup before captain Morgan headed home Gray’s corner.
A late penalty appeal was turned down for the Rams as the ball hit Huth’s hand but the sides will now shift the focus back on the match tonight.
While Leicester might have been favourites in a normal scenario, their domestic form and their porous nature this time around will ensure another high-scoring match. Leicester have won just one of their last seven matches in all competitions – with the Foxes’ latest setback coming in a chastening 3-0 defeat against Manchester United on Sunday afternoon – but the Premier League side will be heartened by their home record in this competition, for Leicester have lost just two of their last 12 FA Cup ties on home turf.
Ranieri has said that he will be making changes to his side as the Premier League is clearly the priority now. New signing Molla Wague is ineligible because he joined the club after the original tie, while Islam Slimani and Leonardo Ulloa are still injured.
While the match might not look too important for the two teams on paper, the passion in the original tie and the history points to another feisty contest.
PREDICTED LEICESTER CITY XI VS DERBY COUNTY (4-1-4-1)
