Jamie Vardy scored his first goal in more than two months to help send a much-changed Leicester City into the fifth round of the FA Cup with victory against fellow Championship side Birmingham.
Blues’ on-loan Fulham striker Jay Stansfield hit the post in a first half dominated by the visitors, who were also repeatedly foiled by Foxes goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk.
But former England striker Vardy met a Marc Albrighton cross immediately after the break to head the Foxes in front with their first effort on target.
And while the talismanic 37-year-old forward had a second goal disallowed for offside, emphatic strikes from Yunus Akgun and Dennis Praet ensured the 2021 FA Cup winners and run-away Championship leaders progressed.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Leicester
Formation 3-4-3
- 41Stolarczyk
- 45Nelson
- 4Coady
- 5DoyleSubstituted forJustinat 45′minutes
- 17Choudhury
- 58CoverSubstituted forRicardo Pereiraat 45′minutes
- 29AkgünSubstituted forRaikhyat 81′minutes
- 26Praet
- 11Albrighton
- 9VardySubstituted forCannonat 67′minutes
- 40Marçal-MadivaduaSubstituted forMcAteerat 45′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Ward
- 2Justin
- 3Faes
- 10Mavididi
- 21Ricardo Pereira
- 28Cannon
- 35McAteer
- 46Thomas
- 47Raikhy
Birmingham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 21Ruddy
- 2LairdSubstituted forRobertsat 45′minutesBooked at 77mins
- 44Aiwu
- 6Bielik
- 3Buchanan
- 19James
- 34SunjicSubstituted forDonovanat 74′minutes
- 11MiyoshiSubstituted forRobertsat 62′minutesBooked at 65mins
- 14AndersonSubstituted forHoganat 63′minutes
- 17DembéléSubstituted forBurkeat 62′minutes
- 28Stansfield
Substitutes
- 1Etheridge
- 4Roberts
- 8Roberts
- 9Hogan
- 20Gardner
- 23Longelo
- 26Long
- 45Burke
- 49Donovan
- Referee:
- Craig Pawson
- Attendance:
- 28,396
Live Text
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Match ends, Leicester City 3, Birmingham City 0.
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Second Half ends, Leicester City 3, Birmingham City 0.
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Foul by Hamza Choudhury (Leicester City).
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Romelle Donovan (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Attempt saved. Tyler Roberts (Birmingham City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Scott Hogan.
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Foul by James Justin (Leicester City).
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Tyler Roberts (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Goal! Leicester City 3, Birmingham City 0. Dennis Praet (Leicester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Thomas Cannon.
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Attempt blocked. Dennis Praet (Leicester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ricardo Pereira.
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Attempt blocked. Marc Albrighton (Leicester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Kasey McAteer.
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Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Emanuel Aiwu.
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Attempt saved. Ben Nelson (Leicester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
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Substitution, Leicester City. Arjan Raikhy replaces Yunus Akgün.
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Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Marc Roberts.
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Attempt blocked. Thomas Cannon (Leicester City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Hamza Choudhury.
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Foul by Dennis Praet (Leicester City).
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Krystian Bielik (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Ben Nelson.
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Offside, Leicester City. James Justin is caught offside.
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Marc Roberts (Birmingham City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
