Joey Gudjonsson's first-half strike proved decisive as Leicester secured a
fourth-round trip to Championship rivals Reading thanks to a scrappy third-round
replay win over League One strugglers Blackpool.
The Icelandic midfielder, who signed from Real Betis in the summer following
loan spells with Aston Villa and Wolves, struck from long range in the early
stages to secure Leicester's second victory in eight matches.
It was a rare moment of quality in a game that was dominated by a strong,
swirling wind that made life increasingly difficult for the two teams.
The home side more than matched Leicester for determination and industry but
could find no answer to Gudjonsson's solitary goal.
Blackpool, who were unlucky to come away from Leicester with a 2-2 draw a week
and a half ago, had the better of the opening exchanges with Keigan Parker
starting a busy night's work by rifling just wide after he had latched on to a
Martin Bullock throughball inside the first minute.
Eighteen-year-old Lewis Edge, who was making only his second appearance in the
Blackpool goal due to the unavailability of Lee Jones, Brad Jones and Kevin
Stuhr-Ellegaard, had an uneventful opening apart from an unconvincing
clearance.
But after 16 minutes, he was picking the ball out of his net. Gudjonsson
intercepted a misplaced Simon Grayson pass 30 yards from goal and, with the
strong wind behind him, hit a shot over Edge's head to give the visitors the
lead. Edge's unease was again demonstrated when he spilled strike from James
Scowcroft, who later headed inexplicably wide from close range despite
connecting well with Gareth Williams' cross.
At the other end of the goalkeeping spectrum, Foxes veteran Ian Walker was
making his first appearance in the Leicester goal since August following a knee
injury, but, the early Parker effort aside, the 33-year-old former England
international had a quiet start to his return to action.
Colin Hendry's Seasiders' best chance of the opening period came six minutes
before the interval after Walker had spilled Mark McGregor's shot but Simon
Lynch, who has just extended his loan spell from Preston by a further month,
shot straight at the former Spurs goalkeeper, who later claimed well from Peter
Clarke's header.
David Connolly, who hit just his fifth goal of the season in the 1-1 draw at
Preston on Saturday, failed to repeat the feat after two minutes over the second
half, with the Republic of Ireland international thwarted at the near post by
Edge after he had been played into space by Scowcroft.
Blackpool continued to toil, while Leicester were increasingly content to punt
long to Dion Dublin, although Edge was forced into a low and brave save from
Connolly before Parker hit a free-kick narrowly wide of Walker's goal as the
game again degenerated into which side could kick the furthest and rush the
fastest.
Edge showed more potential with a fine low save from Keith Gillespie's shot
before Connolly shot the follow-up wide from an offside position and Craig
Levein's side stood up to a late spell of bombardment, with Jordan Stewart even
heading onto his own bar in added time, to book their date at the Madejski
Stadium.
Teams
Blackpool Edge, Clare, McGregor, Clarke, Robert Edwards,
Bullock (Shaw 60), Southern, Grayson (Wellens 67), Coid,
Parker, Lynch (Warhurst 77).
Subs Not Used: Evans, Burns.
Booked: McGregor, Clarke, Shaw.
Leicester Walker, Maybury, Dabizas, Heath, Stewart, Gillespie,
Gudjonsson, Williams, Scowcroft, Dublin (Nalis 70),
Connolly (Wright 90).
Subs Not Used: Keown, Makin, Pressman.
Booked: Williams, Connolly.
Goals: Gudjonsson 16.
Att: 6,938
Ref: T Kettle (Berkshire).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook