Derby 2-2 Leicester: Wes Morgan earns visitors repWes Morgan had endured a fairly awkward night at the back against Derby but the Leicester captain showed his worth at the other end to salvage his team's place in the FA Cup with an equaliser three minutes from the end. Leicester had been on the verge of adding another chastening chapter to a story of an unravelling season by succumbing at Pride Park but Morgan rose supremely to head in Demarai Gray's corner and take this tie to a replay. Leicester nearly progressed on the night when Danny Drinkwater fired a snapshot in stoppage time but Scott Carson got down low to ensure a rematch at the King Power Stadium.  Leicester captain Wes Morgan (centre) led by example to earn his side an FA Cup replay against Derby County Morgan rose above the Derby defence to head home from a corner into the far corner Morgan roars with delight after keeping the Premier League champions in the FA Cup on Friday night The 33-year-old was mobbed by his team-mates after his late equaliser at Pride Park Stadium on Friday night MATCH FACTS  Derby County (4-3-3): Carson 7.5; Baird 7, Keogh 7, Pearce 7, Olsson 6.5; Hughes 7 (Butterfield 64), Johnson 7, Bryson 7 (Camara 88); Ince 6.5, Bent 6.5, Russell 7 (Vydra 84) Booked: Pearce Subs not used: Mitchell, Christie, Shackell, De Sart Manager: Steve McClaren 7 Leicester City (4-4-2): Schmeichel 6.5; Simpson 6, Morgan 6, Huth 6.5, Fuchs 6 (Gray 45, 7); Albrighton 6.5 (Musa 74, 6), King 6.5, Drinkwater 6.5, Chilwell 6.5; Okazaki 7 (Mahrez 64, 6), Vardy 6 Subs not used: Zieler, Mendy, Ndidi, Benalouane Manager: Claudio Ranieri 7 Referee: Mark Clattenburg Attendance: 25,079 MoM: Scott Carson  That is the least Steve McClaren's team deserve having gone so close to inflicting only a second defeat on their bitter local rivals in the last 10 meetings. Ranieri picked a strong side in respect of only 12 places separating these teams in the football pyramid and showed his intent to stay in the competition by sending on Riyad Mahrez as a second-half substitute less than 48 hours after the Algerian returned from the Africa Cup of Nations. After tinkering to little effect in recent weeks, Ranieri had promised a return to the methods that won his team the title, and he was true to his word by selecting a 4-4-2 as close as possible to that from last season. Ben Chilwell was given an unorthodox role on the left wing but otherwise there was a very familiar feel to Leicester's line-up. Shinji Okazaki supported Jamie Vardy up front and the back four was that which would grind out clean sheet after clean sheet. Within eight minutes Leicester had the lead, although it could not be attributed to any incisive play on their part. Robert Huth met Marc Albrighton's corner but what followed was comical. Chris Baird nudged the ball back towards his goal where Darren Bent was in position to clear. Expect he didn't. Under no pressure from those in blue Bent sliced his clearance horrifically into his own net from two yards out. Cue gags about Bent's aptitude for finishing. Worse came when Bent miskicked a good chance set up by Johnny Russell's burst but the Derby striker atoned in the 21st minute. Kasper Schmeichel punched a corner clear only to the feet of Will Hughes, who took a touch a floated in a cross. Bent beat Morgan to glance a fine header beyond the dive of Schmeichel. Carson in the other goal did better soon after when Okazaki broke and let fly from distance. Carson pulled off a super save to tip the ball over. Derby got off to the worst possible start when Darren Bent (right) scored an own goal in the eighth minute The Derby striker sliced a goal-line clearance into his own net after the hosts tried to defend a set-piece Bent's clearance could only nestle into the side netting of his net in one of the strangest own goals in FA Cup history The 32-year-old could only watch on in disbelief as he put his team behind in their fourth-round tie Bent's despair was Leicester's joy as they celebrated taking the lead at Pride Park Stadium With Hughes to the fore, Derby began to gain territorial advantage and five minutes before the interval McClaren's side went ahead. Leicester's defence, so porous this campaign, failed to cover themselves in glory. Danny Simpson's header clear was too weak and Craig Bryson seized the initiative, bursting past Andy King and Morgan to create a shooting chance in the box. His left foot strike was true and well-placed and Pride Park erupted. Ranieri replaced Christian Fuchs with Gray at half-time and the winger twice went close to equalising within five minutes. However, the former England international redeemed himself to level the tie on 21 minutes Bent rose the Leicester defence to head home Will Hughes' cross towards the far post Derby's No 11 effort proved too good for Kasper Schmeichel who dived in vain as Bent's effort crept into the far post Bent wheels away in celebration after atoning for his bizarre own goal on Friday night Steve McClaren (left) barks out instructions to his team from the sidelines as he tries to get them going



Derby County 2-2 Leicester City: Wes Morgan scores late goal to earn visitors FA Cup fourth-round replay

  • Derby County striker Darren Bent inadvertently gave Leicester the lead with a sliced own goal
  • The 32-year-old then made amends to level the scoreline at 1-1 in the 21st minute of the game
  • Craig Bryson fired the Rams ahead with a brilliant solo effort  just before half-time
  • Leicester substitute Demarai Gray hit a post in the opening exchanges of the second half
  • Wes Morgan earned his side a replay with a header on 86 minutes at Pride Park Stadium
Wes Morgan had endured a fairly awkward night at the back against Derby but the Leicester captain showed his worth at the other end to salvage his team's place in the FA Cup with an equaliser three minutes from the end.
Leicester had been on the verge of adding another chastening chapter to a story of an unravelling season by succumbing at Pride Park but Morgan rose supremely to head in Demarai Gray's corner and take this tie to a replay.
Leicester nearly progressed on the night when Danny Drinkwater fired a snapshot in stoppage time but Scott Carson got down low to ensure a rematch at the King Power Stadium. 
Leicester captain Wes Morgan (centre) led by example to earn his side an FA Cup replay against Derby County
Leicester captain Wes Morgan (centre) led by example to earn his side an FA Cup replay against Derby County
Morgan rose above the Derby defence to head home from a corner into the far corner
Morgan rose above the Derby defence to head home from a corner into the far corner
Morgan roars with delight after keeping the Premier League champions in the FA Cup on Friday night
Morgan roars with delight after keeping the Premier League champions in the FA Cup on Friday night
The 33-year-old was mobbed by his team-mates after his late equaliser at Pride Park Stadium on Friday night
The 33-year-old was mobbed by his team-mates after his late equaliser at Pride Park Stadium on Friday night

MATCH FACTS 

Derby County (4-3-3): Carson 7.5; Baird 7, Keogh 7, Pearce 7, Olsson 6.5; Hughes 7 (Butterfield 64), Johnson 7, Bryson 7 (Camara 88); Ince 6.5, Bent 6.5, Russell 7 (Vydra 84)
Booked: Pearce
Subs not used: Mitchell, Christie, Shackell, De Sart
Manager: Steve McClaren 7
Leicester City (4-4-2): Schmeichel 6.5; Simpson 6, Morgan 6, Huth 6.5, Fuchs 6 (Gray 45, 7); Albrighton 6.5 (Musa 74, 6), King 6.5, Drinkwater 6.5, Chilwell 6.5; Okazaki 7 (Mahrez 64, 6), Vardy 6
Subs not used: Zieler, Mendy, Ndidi, Benalouane
Manager: Claudio Ranieri 7
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Attendance: 25,079
MoM: Scott Carson 
That is the least Steve McClaren's team deserve having gone so close to inflicting only a second defeat on their bitter local rivals in the last 10 meetings.
Ranieri picked a strong side in respect of only 12 places separating these teams in the football pyramid and showed his intent to stay in the competition by sending on Riyad Mahrez as a second-half substitute less than 48 hours after the Algerian returned from the Africa Cup of Nations.
After tinkering to little effect in recent weeks, Ranieri had promised a return to the methods that won his team the title, and he was true to his word by selecting a 4-4-2 as close as possible to that from last season.
Ben Chilwell was given an unorthodox role on the left wing but otherwise there was a very familiar feel to Leicester's line-up. Shinji Okazaki supported Jamie Vardy up front and the back four was that which would grind out clean sheet after clean sheet.
Within eight minutes Leicester had the lead, although it could not be attributed to any incisive play on their part. Robert Huth met Marc Albrighton's corner but what followed was comical. Chris Baird nudged the ball back towards his goal where Darren Bent was in position to clear. Expect he didn't. Under no pressure from those in blue Bent sliced his clearance horrifically into his own net from two yards out. Cue gags about Bent's aptitude for finishing.
Worse came when Bent miskicked a good chance set up by Johnny Russell's burst but the Derby striker atoned in the 21st minute. Kasper Schmeichel punched a corner clear only to the feet of Will Hughes, who took a touch a floated in a cross. Bent beat Morgan to glance a fine header beyond the dive of Schmeichel.
Carson in the other goal did better soon after when Okazaki broke and let fly from distance. Carson pulled off a super save to tip the ball over.
Derby got off to the worst possible start when Darren Bent (right) scored an own goal in the eighth minute
Derby got off to the worst possible start when Darren Bent (right) scored an own goal in the eighth minute
The Derby striker sliced a goal-line clearance into his own net after the hosts tried to defend a set-piece
The Derby striker sliced a goal-line clearance into his own net after the hosts tried to defend a set-piece
Bent's clearance could only nestle into the side netting of his net in one of the strangest own goals in FA Cup history
Bent's clearance could only nestle into the side netting of his net in one of the strangest own goals in FA Cup history
The 32-year-old could only watch on in disbelief as he put his team behind in their fourth-round tie
The 32-year-old could only watch on in disbelief as he put his team behind in their fourth-round tie
Bent's despair was Leicester's joy as they celebrated taking the lead at Pride Park Stadium
Bent's despair was Leicester's joy as they celebrated taking the lead at Pride Park Stadium
With Hughes to the fore, Derby began to gain territorial advantage and five minutes before the interval McClaren's side went ahead. Leicester's defence, so porous this campaign, failed to cover themselves in glory.
Danny Simpson's header clear was too weak and Craig Bryson seized the initiative, bursting past Andy King and Morgan to create a shooting chance in the box. His left foot strike was true and well-placed and Pride Park erupted.
Ranieri replaced Christian Fuchs with Gray at half-time and the winger twice went close to equalising within five minutes.
However, the former England international redeemed himself to level the tie on 21 minutes
However, the former England international redeemed himself to level the tie on 21 minutes
Bent rose the Leicester defence to head home Will Hughes' cross towards the far post
Bent rose the Leicester defence to head home Will Hughes' cross towards the far post
Derby's No 11 effort proved too good for Kasper Schmeichel who dived in vain as Bent's effort crept into the far post
Derby's No 11 effort proved too good for Kasper Schmeichel who dived in vain as Bent's effort crept into the far post
Bent wheels away in celebration after atoning for his bizarre own goal on Friday night
Bent wheels away in celebration after atoning for his bizarre own goal on Friday night
Steve McClaren (left) barks out instructions to his team from the sidelines as he tries to get them going
Steve McClaren (left) barks out instructions to his team from the sidelines as he tries to get them going
Hughes (centre) controls the ball in midfield under pressure from Leicester left back Ben Chilwell
Hughes (centre) controls the ball in midfield under pressure from Leicester left back Ben Chilwell
Leicester striker Shinji Okazaki (left) battles for the ball with Derby's Craig Bryson during the first half
Leicester striker Shinji Okazaki (left) battles for the ball with Derby's Craig Bryson during the first half
Just before half-time Derby turned the scoreline on its head through  Bryson's strike
Just before half-time Derby turned the scoreline on its head through Bryson's strike
The Derby midfielder picked up the ball outside the Leicester penalty area and ran at their defence
The Derby midfielder picked up the ball outside the Leicester penalty area and ran at their defence
Weaving his way into the box, he struck a low left-footed effort that went past Schmeichel
Weaving his way into the box, he struck a low left-footed effort that went past Schmeichel
The 30-year-old wheels way in celebration after giving the Championship outfit the lead
The 30-year-old wheels way in celebration after giving the Championship outfit the lead
The Scottish midfielder was quickly congratulated by his team-mates as they led the Foxes at half-time
The Scottish midfielder was quickly congratulated by his team-mates as they led the Foxes at half-time
First he should have done much better than fire a loose ball straight at Carson from six yards out, then he hit the post with a neat curling shot. The rebound fell to Okazaki, whose first attempt was blocked by Bradley Johnson and second was again to close to Carson. Ranieri, in bobble hat, puffer coat, and trainers, wondered how his side were not level.
They nearly went further behind before the hour. Baird robbed Gray and delivered a brilliant cross that Russell met at the far post, but his header rippled the side-netting.
Vardy had a fine chance to equalise with 20 minutes left when presented a free header six yards out, but not for the first time Carson was grateful the ball flew straight at him.
Schmeichel clears his line with a punch, under pressure from another Derby attack
Schmeichel clears his line with a punch, under pressure from another Derby attack
Leicester substitute Demarai Gray came close to equalising in the second half shortrly before hitting a post
Leicester substitute Demarai Gray came close to equalising in the second half shortrly before hitting a post
Gray's effort against the frame of the goal saw the rebound fall to Okazaki but his strike was saved by Scott Carson
Gray's effort against the frame of the goal saw the rebound fall to Okazaki but his strike was saved by Scott Carson
Riyad Mahrez (centre) came on for Okazaki in the second half after returning from international duty with Algeria
Riyad Mahrez (centre) came on for Okazaki in the second half after returning from international duty with Algeria

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