Leicester finally battered York into submission with a storming second-half display to clinch their place in the FA Cup fourth round at Filbert Street on Saturday.

Gary Rowett and Muzzy Izzet both struck in a devastating seven-minute spell early in the second-half to see off the brave challenge of the Third Division strugglers.

Former York striker Richard Cresswell added the third as Leicester bounced back to winning ways after two successive Premiership defeats.

Until then, York had thwarted fears they would be found all-at-sea despite this week maintaining their cup ritual of training on the beach at the Yorkshire resort of Filey before enjoying a fish-and-chip supper.

Indeed the visitors could have taken a shock half-time lead but for a glaring miss by Chris Iwelumo after they had comfortably dealt with Leicester's attacks.

But Leicester took full advantage as their visitors, 19th in the Third Division, tired after the break and they should have added several more goals before the end.

Rowett ended York's stiff resistance in the 56th minute when he rifled home a left-footed volley from close range after skipper Matt Elliott had headed on a corner from Izzet at the near post.

It was Rowett's first goal of the campaign and a much-needed one as it steadied his side who made the game safe within minutes.

Izzet sent York keeper Alan Fettis the wrong way as he drilled home his seventh goal of the season from the penalty spot after striker Trevor Benjamin was pulled down from behind by Kevin Hulme.

Cresswell, who came on a replacement for Ade Akinbiyi at the start of the second-half, scored against his former club with 17 minutes left with a thumping diving header from Andy Impey's cross.

The striker could easily have ended up with a hat-trick against the side where he first plied his trade.

Cresswell saw a spectacular overhead kick drift just inches wide, then he was thwarted by Fettis after producing a rasping left-footed drive as Leicester took command.

But Cresswell should have opened the scoring within seconds of appearing alongside Stefan Oakes who had come on for Phil Gilchrist.

Oakes' first touch was to send in a threatening cross from the left which found Cresswell unmarked eight yards out, but the striker looped his header over the bar.

Cresswell was then deemed offside after Steve Guppy had curled a shot into the bottom corner past Fettis before himself seeing a header pushed away by the Northern Ireland international.

York had been forced onto the defensive for virtually all of the first-half, but they still should have gone into the interval holding the lead after Iwelumo spurned a glorious chance.

Iwelumo, a loan signing from Stoke and operating as a lone striker, was sent clear of the Leicester defence after intercepting a poor pass from Welsh midfielder Matthew Jones.

But the Scot dragged his 35th minute shot well wide from just 15 yards with only keeper Simon Royce - deputising for the injured Tim Flowers - to beat.

Iwelumo buried his head into his hands as he reflected on his glaring miss and he was only saved further blushes by Fettis who within seconds was palming away a goal-bound effort from Izzet.

That was the only serious stop he had to make in the opening half as Leicester's lack of punch up front which has sometimes told against them in the Premiership was again evident.

Savage did force Fettis into another save, but otherwise Leicester struggled to prize a decent opening out of a York defence superbly marshalled by centre-back Colin Alcide.

Leicester's class and fitness finally told, but they will need more of a cutting edge up front if they are to emerge serious FA Cup prospects.

Teams:

Leicester: Royce, Impey, Rowett, Elliott, Gilchrist (Oakes 47), Guppy, Robbie Savage (Delaney 75), Jones, Izzet, Akinbiyi (Cresswell 45), Benjamin.

Subs Not Used: Price, Gunnlaugsson.

Goals: Rowett 57, Izzet 63 pen, Cresswell 73.

York: Fettis, Thompson (Hocking 82), Patterson, Alcide, Bower, Fox (Hall 80), Agnew, Hulme, Potter (Mathie 70), McNiven, Lwelumo.

Subs Not Used: Howarth, Stamp.

Booked: Agnew.

Att: 16,850

Ref: E Wolstenholme (Blackburn).