Jamie Scowcroft doubled his Leicester City goal tally as his one-two blast enabled the Foxes to avoid slipping on another FA Cup banana skin.

But they needed to survive a last-minute miss from Mansfield's Allen Tankard who headed over from seven yards out with the goal at his mercy.

City had been dramatically dumped out of the competition at home by Second Division Wycombe last season - a result which sparked an alarming decline in their fortunes.

They had won only five of 32 matches since that quarter-final shock and slipped to the bottom of the Premiership.

The visit of Mansfield, riding high in the Second Division, must have sent shudders down the spine of the City fans but Scowcroft eased their fears.

He has been dogged by injury niggles since his summer move from Ipswich Town but is now starting to benefit from a run of first team games and his brace booked Leicester a fourth round spot.

The Stags had more than held their own in the opening 45 minutes and must have sensed an upset when Chris Greenacre's 21st goal of the season cancelled out Scowcroft's first goal.

But it was a totally different story in the second period when Mansfield sat deeper and were under almost constant pressure from the home side.

Dennis Wise had probably his best game for Leicester in the centre of the park as he made the most of the space that opened up in front of him.

Acting skipper Robbie Savage was his usual bundle of non-stop energy wile Frank Sinclair did a steady job in shoring up an inexperienced defence.

But the home side still nearly let it slip and Tankard will have nightmares about his miss in injury-time.

Now Dave Bassett will be hoping his side can gain some confidence from this victory to help with the more important battles ahead in trying to stay in the Premiership.

Mansfield, lying third in Division Three, began in confident fashion and Greenacre was inches away from connecting with a knock back across goal from his strike partner Shayne Bradley.

Foxes 'keeper Ian Walker then had to be alert to turn a curling right-footed shot around the post from Wayne Corden after he had cut in from the left flank.

But Leicester started to exercise some control and Kevin Pilkington saved a header from Brian Deane while Muzzy Izzet burst into the area and had a powerful shot blocked.

Robbie Savage, deputising as skipper for the suspended Matt Elliott, then stole in at the far post but side-footed wide after Scowcroft had flicked on a cross from Andy Impey.

Bassett's side finally broke the deadlock after 24 minutes through Scowcroft's third goal since his summer move from Ipswich.

Wise fed Alan Rogers on the left flank and his deep cross picked out Scowcroft who sent a powerful header wide of Pilkington.

But Mansfield stunned the home side by getting back on level terms seven minutes before the interval through Greenacre's 21st goal of the season.

The creator was Corden who picked out the former Manchester City player and his glancing header beat Walker and flew into the corner of the net. It was the cue for mass celebrations from the 3,200 Mansfield fans.

Leicester retaliated and a deflected shot from Deane flew straight at Pilkington.

Bassettt re-organised at the start of the second period and brought on Ade Akinbiyi and Matthew Heath in place of Lee Marshall and Jordan Stewart with Impey switching to right-back and Scowcroft onto the left-side of midfield.

Sinclair headed just over and then the woodwork came to Mansfield's rescue after 56 minutes.

Savage spotted Pilkington off his line and his 35-yard chip beat the Stags 'keeper but hit the bar and rebounded to safety.

Scowcroft was then only just off target with a bullet-like header from an Impey centra as Leicester slowly looked to turn the screw and they regained the lead after 62 minutes.

Rogers was again the provider with a probing left-wing cross and that man Scowcroft sent a stooping header wide of Pilkington into the corner of the net.

Izzet then had the chance to seal the tie when he was sent clear by Wise but his chip eluded Pilkington but also drifted wide of the far post.

Heath could also have ended Mansfield's dream when he powered a header wide when unmarked from a Wise corner.

Pilkington turned a low drive around the post from Pilkington but then came Tankard's miss.

Teams:

Leicester (1) 2 Mansfield (1) 1

Leicester: Walker, Impey, Marshall (Akinbiyi 45), Sinclair, Stewart (Heath 45), Savage, Wise, Izzet, Rogers, Deane, Scowcroft.

Subs Not Used: Flowers, Oakes, Jones.

Booked: Scowcroft.

Goals: Scowcroft 24, 62.

Mansfield: Pilkington, Hassell, Robinson, Barrett, Tankard, Lawrence (White 87), Williamson, Pemberton (Asher 73), Corden, Greenacre, Bradley.

Subs Not Used: Bingham, Reddington, Jervis.

Goals: Greenacre 38.

Att: 14,466

Ref: P Durkin (Dorset).