Neil Clement converted a hotly-disputed penalty to earn West Brom their second
Premiership scalp and a place in the last 16 of the FA Cup.
Clement fired home the spot-kick after Leicester skipper Matt Elliott was
harshly adjudged by referee Clive Wilkes to have brought down Andy Johnson after
he burst into the area.
It followed on from the Baggies win over Sunderland at the Stadium Of Light in
the previous round and piled on more misery for relegation-threatened Leicester
who now only have survival to fight for.
Now Gary Megson, who lives in the same village as City manager Dave Bassett,
will relish his side's chances against anyone in the last 16, particularly with
a home draw.
Leicester were without nine first team players and were harassed out of their
stride in the opening 20 minutes with Albion wing-back Clement threatening down
the left flank.
The visitors gradually got a grip in the middle of the park and then the trio
of Muzzy Izzet, Stefan Oakes and Matthew Jones bossed proceedings for long
periods.
But once again Leicester were unable to find the finishing touch and Albion,
for whom Darren Moore was the pick of a solid defence, stuck to their task and
came back strongly in the final 20 minutes.
Andy Johnson was impressive in midfield as Megson's side showed why they are
looking a good bet to gain promotion.
The first worthwhile opportunity fell to the home side after nine minutes when
a cross from Neil Clement picked out Danny Dichio but he sent his looping header
just over Ian Walker's bar.
There was plenty of endeavour but precious little quality football in the
opening quarter but a measured pass from Izzet almost picked out Trevor
Benjamin.
Benjamin, brought back from loan spell at Crystal Palace because of City's
injury crisis, took the ball into his stride but Albion's former Leicester
keeper Russell Hoult was out quickly to snuff out the danger.
Clement was then only just off target with a curling free-kick from the edge
of the Leicester penalty area but it was the visitors who came close to taking
the lead in the 32nd minute.
A long, curling pass from youngster Jordan Stewart put Ade Akinbiyi clear of
the Albion defence and he dinked the ball past the advancing Hoult towards an
unguarded net.
But Phil Gilchrist was alert to the danger and raced back to hook the ball off
the line.
Goalmouth action was at a premium but in the 42nd minute Ian Walker, who had
passed a late fitness test on a back problem, kept Leicester on level terms with
his only save of the opening 45 minutes.
Moore made a powerful 50-yard break before releasing Dichio. But Walker spread
himself at the feet of the former Sunderland player and blocked his eventual
shot.
Leicester showed more urgency at the start of the second period and it needed
a superb save by Hoult to deny Marshall the opening goal.
Oakes' left wing cross fell to Marshall just outside the area and his
perfectly struck volley seemed destined for the top corner.
But Hoult, who spent eight seasons at Filbert Street, leapt to finger-tip his
effort over the bar.
It was now virtual one-day traffic towards the Albion goal and Hoult was
relieved when a low Izzet shot bounced up off Moore into his hands.
But in an Albion breakaway raid, substitute Scott Dobie was only just off
target with a lob over Walker after Andy Johnson had played the ball through to
him.
Ruel Fox then shot wide from only six yards out after Johnson had spotted his
run into the area.
It looked as if Albion's chance had gone but then came that penalty award
which sent the majority of the 26,000 wild with delight.
Teams:
West Brom: Hoult, Sigurdsson, Moore, Gilchrist,
Balis (Lyttle 90), Adam Chambers (Fox 57), McInnes, Johnson,
Clement, Roberts, Dichio (Dobie 61).
Subs Not Used: Jensen, Taylor.
Goals: Clement 80 pen.
Leicester: Walker, Stewart, Elliott, Marshall, Impey, Oakes,
Jones (Piper 81), Izzet, Rogers (Davidson 82), Akinbiyi,
Benjamin.
Subs Not Used: Flowers, Lewis, Heath.
Booked: Elliott, Izzet.
Att: 26,820
Ref: C Wilkes (Gloucester).
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