Supersub Arnar Gunnlaugsson left Aston Villa's season in tatters as he scored a dramatic late winner in a pulsating FA Cup clash.

The Icelandic international had only been on the pitch six minutes when he volleyed past Villa keeper David James via the underside of the bar.

All four of his goals this season have been scored when he came off the bench but none has been as crucial as this one.

It maintained Leicester's dominance over Villa who have now failed to beat them in 14 matches stretching back 13 years.

But more crucially it leaves Villa, for whom David Ginola could not even earn a place on the substitutes' bench, with only the slim hope of qualifying for the UEFA Cup via the Premiership to play for.

A pulsating cup tie, which saw Villa striker Darius Vassell and Leicester defender Callum Davidson sent off, had looked to be heading for a replay after another substitute Julian Joachim had levelled for the home side.

In fairness Villa deserved at least a share of the spoils after totally dominating the final 45 minutes with Paul Merson driving them forward.

But the Leicester defence and goalkeeper Simon Royce were in superb form as Peter Taylor's side booked a place in the last 16 and they restricted clear-cut chances to a minimum.

A question mark will now inevitably hang over the future of Ginola who is understood to have driven away from Villa Park on hearing that he was not even one of the substitutes.

Gregory has increasingly lost patience with the £3million capture and the writing was on the wall after he substituted him against Liverpool when questioning his workrate.

Tempers were frayed from the start and Vassell was yellow-carded in the fifth minute for a late touch-line challenge on Leicester defender Gerry Taggart.

David James dealt with a powerful shot from Ade Akinbiyi before Davidson went into the notebook for a crude tackle on Ian Taylor.

Vassell nearly covered himself in glory again when his header from an Alan Wright left-wing cross crashed against the crossbar.

But that was his last worthwhile contribution before he was dismissed by Rennie for another dreadful looking challenge on Foxes wing-back Andrew Impey.

Leicester now enjoyed their best spell of the half and James made a superb point-blank save to keep out a near post header from Gary Rowett following a Robbie Savage free-kick.

But the England keeper was beaten two minutes before the interval when Akinbiyi cashed in on a mistake by Gareth Barry.

He allowed a through ball from Matt Elliott to find its way to Akinbiyi and, although James blocked his first effort, he kept his cool to tuck away the rebound.

But then Leicester were also reduced to 10 men when Davidson came in heavily on Villa defender Steve Staunton.

That prompted a 12-man brawl in the Villa penalty area before Rennie handed out a second yellow card to the former Blackburn player.

There was still time for Merson to be only just off target with an effort on the stroke of half-time.

The home side pressed at the start of the second period and Juan Pablo Angel got in a header from a Merson cross but it was comfortably saved by Royce.

Gregory showed his attacking intentions by bringing on Julian Joachim after a long injury absence in place of wing-back Alan Wright.

It was now non-stop towards the Leicester goal and Angel should have done better with a header directed over the bar from a Merson centre.

In a rare Leicester raid Roberto Mancini volleyed across goal after James had palmed away a cross from Andrew Impey at full stretch.

But Villa were soon back on the offensive and Royce needed two attempts to hold onto a low effort from Alpay.

The equaliser came when Joachim turned Taggart and drilled a low shot past Royce following a cross into the area from Steve Staunton.

But then came that spectacular Gunnlaugsson decider after skipper Matt Elliott had played the ball into his path.

Teams

Aston Villa James, Barry, Staunton, Alpay, Wright (Joachim 52), Taylor, Boateng, Stone, Merson, Angel (Dublin 81), Vassell.

Subs Not Used: Delaney, Hendrie, Enckelman.

Sent Off: Vassell (34).

Booked: Vassell, Boateng.

Goals: Joachim 76.

Leicester Royce, Rowett, Elliott, Taggart, Impey, Davidson, Delaney, Robbie Savage, Jones (Gilchrist 55), Mancini (Guppy 72), Akinbiyi (Gunnlaugsson 78).

Subs Not Used: Price, Cresswell.

Sent Off: Davidson (45).

Booked: Davidson.

Goals: Akinbiyi 42, Gunnlaugsson 84.

Att: 26,383

Ref: U Rennie (Sheffield).