Championship Blackburn upset Leicester

Championship high-fliers Blackburn Rovers caused an FA Cup fifth round upset by stunning Premier League Leicester City.

Rovers, fourth in the table and aiming for a return to the top flight where they have not played for more than a decade, were more than a match for 2021 cup winners Leicester.

Their dynamic display, in which they should have scored more goals, gave them a place in the last eight for the first time in eight years.

Having been denied by Daniel Iversen's flying save, Tyrhys Dolan curled past Leicester's Danish goalkeeper for the opener.

Ryan Hedges then missed a gilt-edged opportunity to double the visiting side's lead at the start of the second period when he failed to hit the target from 10 yards out.

It didn't prove costly as Sammie Szmodics wriggled clear to convert Rovers' second in the 52nd minute, while the midfielder also had a goal ruled out for offside.

Substitute Kelechi Iheanacho pulled one back for the Foxes by slotting in from close range, but a dull and dreary night ended in disappointment for Brendan Rodgers' men.

Dynamic Rovers maintain run

This was the first meeting between the two sides since they played in the Championship nine years ago, when the Foxes finished top of the table with a tally of 102 points.

They shocked the footballing world by winning the Premier League just two seasons later, as well as winning the FA Cup only two years ago, but Leicester are a significant distance away from those heady heights.

Exiting this competition means they can now concentrate on matters in the league, with the Foxes four places and three points above the drop zone and pondering the unthinkable of relegation.

The hosts actually started brightly, but early missed opportunities proved fatal. Rovers keeper Aynsley Pears denied Tete's strike and Dennis Praet's follow-up, before he then kept out Jamie Vardy's shot from the angle.

But once Blackburn went ahead courtesy of Dolan's strike from outside the area in the 33rd minute, they showcased a display full of energy and verve.

They deservedly added a second when the sprightly Szmodics got the bounce of the ball and barged his way past the Leicester backline before coolly rolling in his finish.

Jon Dahl Tomasson's men should have been out of sight, but Leicester's stand-in keeper Iversen spread himself to keep out a low drive from Szmodics, who twice curled wide.

Iheanacho's 67th-minute goal produced a nervy finish and the home side almost took the game to extra time.

Nampalys Mendy fired inches wide, while Daniel Amartey's late header hit the outside of the post.

Blackburn held out for the six minutes of stoppage time, leaving their supporters singing they are "going to Wembley" after a first win at Leicester since 1991 - a run of 10 games.

As well as keeping their Wembley dream alive, Rovers will look to maintain their form in the Championship, as they stretched their excellent recent run to one defeat in their last 13 under Tomasson.

Player of the match

SzmodicsSammie Szmodics

Leicester City

Squad number14Player nameIheanacho

Squad number16Player nameKristiansen

Squad number7Player nameBarnes

Squad number31Player nameIversen

Squad number24Player nameMendy

Squad number27Player nameCastagne

Squad number21Player nameRicardo Pereira

Squad number22Player nameDewsbury-Hall

Squad number3Player nameFaes

Squad number26Player namePraet

Squad number37Player nameTetê

Squad number20Player nameDaka

Squad number42Player nameSoumaré

Squad number18Player nameAmartey

Squad number33Player nameThomas

Squad number9Player nameVardy

Blackburn Rovers

Squad number8Player nameSzmodics

Squad number10Player nameDolan

Squad number27Player nameTravis

Squad number11Player nameRankin-Costello

Squad number9Player nameGallagher

Squad number6Player nameMorton

Squad number5Player nameHyam

Squad number17Player nameCarter

Squad number13Player namePears

Squad number3Player namePickering

Squad number19Player nameHedges

Squad number2Player nameBrittain

Squad number33Player namePhillips

Squad number21Player nameBuckley

Squad number29Player nameVale

Line-ups

Leicester

Formation 4-3-3

31Iversen

21Ricardo Pereira18Amartey3Faes33Thomas

26Praet42Soumaré22Dewsbury-Hall

37Tetê9Vardy7Barnes

Substitutes

Blackburn

Formation 4-2-3-1

13Pears

11Rankin-Costello17Carter5Hyam3Pickering

27Travis6Morton

19Hedges8Szmodics10Dolan

9Gallagher

Substitutes

Live Text

Match ends, Leicester City 1, Blackburn Rovers 2.

Second Half ends, Leicester City 1, Blackburn Rovers 2.

Foul by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Leicester City).

Lewis Travis (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Offside, Blackburn Rovers. John Buckley tries a through ball, but Tyrhys Dolan is caught offside.

Nampalys Mendy (Leicester City) is shown the yellow card.

Foul by Nampalys Mendy (Leicester City).

Lewis Travis (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Patson Daka (Leicester City).

Dominic Hyam (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Daniel Amartey (Leicester City) hits the right post with a header from very close range. Assisted by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall with a cross following a corner.

Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Callum Brittain.

Attempt missed. Nampalys Mendy (Leicester City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Wout Faes following a corner.

Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Harry Pickering.

Corner, Leicester City. Conceded by Aynsley Pears.

Attempt saved. Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Harvey Barnes.

Victor Kristiansen (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Jack Vale (Blackburn Rovers).

Offside, Blackburn Rovers. Dominic Hyam tries a through ball, but Tyrhys Dolan is caught offside.

Attempt missed. Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Timothy Castagne with a headed pass.

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