Carling Cup Fourth Round - Leicester City 1-4 West Bromwich Albion

Last updated : 27 October 2010 By Joe Harris

City boss Eriksson was forced into making several changes to the starting 11 that went down 2-0 at Swansea on Saturday. Miguel Vitor, Robbie Nielson, Yuki Abe and ‘keeper Conrad Logan all benefiting from the managers' change in personnel and it was Logan who was most impressionable – albeit for all the wrong reasons.

The Foxes made a promising start and could have taken the lead after just two minutes. Abe and Dyer combined well on the edge of the Baggies’ area, but Dyers’ through ball rolled just too far for Andy King to connect.

The home side continued to press for an opener and came close after ten minutes when Gallagher was left unmarked on the edge of the box, but he was unable to hit the target, smashing a low drive narrowly wide of goal.

West Brom were on the back foot for much of the first half as Lloyd Dyer continued to make a nuisance of himself on the right wing and Steve Howard went agonisingly close to getting his head to an in swinging cross on 25 minutes.

Paul Gallagher again came incredibly close to giving the Foxes the lead, this time he saw his 20 yard free kick bounce the wrong side of the post.

But for all the Foxes pressure, it was the visitors who took the lead against the run of play just minutes later.

A loose cross from Giles Barnes was half cleared by Vitor before taking a deflection and falling to the feet of Simon Cox - who was able to turn and chip the ball over Conrad Logan from six yards.

Suddenly the Baggies were in the ascendancy and Giles Barnes looked to have doubled their lead, but his shot flew wide of goal and the Foxes held on to go in 1-0 down at half time.

Leicester started the second half with the attacking intent they showed early in the first and were soon awarded for their efforts.

Some good work from Robbie Neilson on the right wing released Gallagher, who sent a zipping cross into the box; the ball took a cruel deflection off Nicky Shorey before flying over the head of ‘keeper Myhill to level matters after 52 minutes.

Incredibly, just as Eriksson’s men looked to be pushing for a second goal, the City boss hauled off the Foxes most potent attacking threat in the form of Lloyd Dyer – a move that left the Foxes faithful bemused.

Without Dyer, the Foxes lacked the pace and attacking guile that made them such a threat earlier in the match and the Baggies were soon able to get a foothold on proceedings and take control of midfield.

As the pressure began to mount on the Foxes rearguard, Roman Bednar missed a guilt edge chance on the hour mark. Giles Barnes picked out the striker with a superbly weighted ball from the touchline, but the hitman headed over from just four yards.

The Baggies did however regain the lead on 62 minutes thanks to a huge slice of luck. A hopeless ball up to winger Tchoyi looked comfortable for Logan. However, the Irish number 13 dropped the ball kindly at the attackers’ feet. Tchoyi had time to look up and smash the ball past a helpless Miguel Vitor. The Baggies were bouncing again.

The game became stretched as the Foxes chased an equaliser. Eriksson sent on Matty Fryatt in the hope of forcing a change, but West Brom remained strong at the back and looked a continuous threat on the counter attack. The Baggies looked certain to take advantage as the Foxes tired.

Conrad Logan produced an incredible save to tip Simon Cox’s 30 yard free kick onto the bar and out for a corner. But, another defensive horror show from the Foxes allowed Reid to nip in at the far post to nod in number three from the resulting corner.

City had several chances to pull a goal back, most notably a Yuki Abe strike that whistled inches wide of Myhill’s right hand post.

However, Leicester were condemned to their second defeat  in four days when a late Simon Cox pile driver put the finishing touches to a great night for the Baggies, but the Foxes will feel they played better than the three goal margin suggests.

Eriksson will be relieved to have loanee defenders Curtis Davies and Kyle Naughton back in action on Saturday when they host Preston at the Walkers Stadium. Judging by this defensive nightmare, their places in the starting 11 are all but guaranteed.