Leicester produced a clinical performance to ensure there was no chance of an
FA Cup upset as they comfortably disposed of Northampton.
Martin O'Neill's side dominated proceedings territorially from start tofinish
and Northampton were only in the contest until the 17th minute opener from Ian
Marshall.
After that it was a question of Northampton trying to undertake a damage
limitation exercise as the gulf between the Premiership and the Second Division
was emphasised.
And to make matters worse for the visitors they had defender Ian Clarkson sent
off in the 68th minute after a reckless touch-line challenge on Foxes midfielder
Muzzy Izzet.
Leicester were inspired by Rob Savage who, along with fellow wing-back Steve
Guppy, took full advantage of the acres of room they were presented with on the
flanks.
Garry Parker was also influential in midfield and the home side had toomuch
power and pace for Northampton whose 3,400 following had little to cheer about.
Leicester goalkeeper Kasey Keller did not have a shot worthy of the name to
deal with in the entire 90 minutes.
Leicester took charge from the kick off with Guppy testing the Cobblers
defence with a series of probing centres.
Marshall and Savage both fired just wide after latching on to balls from the
former Port Vale player before Leicester seized the initiative with twogoals in
eight minutes.
The deadlock was broken in the 17th minute after a long raking pass from Guppy
found Emile Heskey in space on the left side of the area.
The England Under-21 striker actually miscontrolled as Northampton 'keeper
Andy Woodman came racing out of his goal.
But the ball broke invitingly to Marshall who coolly drilled a low curling
shot into the corner of the net from 20 yards.
Keller was called into action for just about the only time to easily deal with
a low 20-yarder from former Tottenham Hotspur player Jason Dozzell.
But in the 25th minute Leicester went further ahead. Savage was brought down
in the area by John Frain after playing a one-two with Neil Lennon.
Referee Alan Wilkie had no hesitation in awarding a penalty and Garry Parker
hammered the resulting spot-kick past Woodman.
Heskey was presented with a golden opportunity to increase Leicester's lead on
the stroke of half-time when he raced on to a long pass from Parker but he sent
his left-footed shot high over the bar with only Woodman to beat.
Northampton manager Ian Atkins brought on Carl Heggs and Ali Gibb for John
Gayle and former Leicester defender Colin Hill at the interval - but within 13
minutes of the restart the game was over as a contest as the home side doubled
their tally.
The impressive Savage made it 3-0 in the 53rd minute when he ran forward to
meet a chip from Parker and coolly rounded Woodman before swivelling to drill a
low shot into the net.
Five minutes later Tony Cottee, a half-time substitute for Marshall, hadcause
to celebrate as he grabbed his first goal for Leicester since his summer move
from Malaysian club Selangor.
Cottee, recalled from a loan spell with Birmingham, had the simplest ofchances
to tap-in a low centre from Heskey at the far post.
Then came the Clarkson sending-off as Leicester, apart from one shot from
Lennon turned around the post by Woodman, played out time with the minimum of
fuss.
Teams
Leicester: Keller, Izzet (Fenton 70), Lennon, Parker, Heskey,
Savage, Kaamark, Prior, Elliott, Marshall (Cottee 45),
Guppy (Wilson 83).
Subs Not Used: Arphexad, Claridge.
Goals: Marshall 17, Parker 26 pen, Savage 53, Cottee 58.
Northampton: Woodman, Clarkson, Frain, Bishop (Hunt 60),
Hill (Gibb 45), Brightwell, Peer, Dozzell, Freestone,
Gayle (Heggs 45), Hunter.
Subs Not Used: Seal, Turley.
Sent Off: Clarkson (67).
Booked: Hunt.
Att: 20,608
Ref: A B Wilkie (Chester-le-Street).
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