Leicester City v Blackburn Rovers Live Commentary & Result, 28/02/2023, FA Cup

That is all for today - thanks for tuning in!

It is back to league action for both sides on the weekend. Leicester travel to the south coast for a crucial relegation clash against Southampton, while host Sheffield United in the Championship.

Goals from Dolan and Szmodics are enough for Blackburn as they secured a 2-1 upset victory against Premier League Leicester City. Dolan opened the scoring in the first half with a fine strike after Amartey gave the ball away cheaply at the back. The Championship visitors doubled their lead when Szmodics squirmed past Amarety and Pereira to poke home Blackburn's second. Iheanacho came off the bench to pull one back for Rodgers' side but they were unable to find another with victory sending Blackburn through to the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time since the 2014-15 season.

90' + 6' FULL-TIME: LEICESTER CITY 1-2 BLACKBURN ROVERS

N. Mendy

Yellow Card

90' + 4' Mendy receives a booking for a petty challenge on Travis.

90' + 3' POST!! Castagne make a good burst down the right and delivers a cross aiming for Barnes but Brittain is well-positioned and heads it out for a corner. Dewsbury-Hall delivers and Amartey meets it but his header flicks the outside of the post with Pears beaten.

90' There will be six minutes of additional time for Leicester to try and keep this game alive.

90' Blackburn defend a series of corners before the ball comes out to Mendy. The midfielder strikes it first time but it flies just wide of the top-right corner.

89' Iheanacho again with a well-hit effort from outside the box but it is straight at Pears and the Blackburn goalkeeper makes a good stop.

86' Blackburn are inviting all kinds of pressure onto their goal as they look to defend their lead. Iheanacho cuts inside from the right and bends an effort goalbound but it is just wide of the post.

J. Buckley

R. Hedges

84' Hedges also comes off for Buckley as Blackburn move to a back five.

A. Phillips

T. Morton

84' Blackburn make a double change. Central midfielder Morton comes off for Phillips.

K. Ịheanachọ

Yellow Card

83' Iheanachọ is also booked for his part in the scuffle.

S. Szmodics

Yellow Card

83' Szmodics goes into the book after an off-the-ball incident following a Dolan challenge on Iheanacho.

81' WIDE!! Barnes has been a live wire in these last 15 minutes and he has the beating of Brittain again. He goes outside the right-back this time but his low drilled effort goes just wide of the post with Pears beaten.

80' Barnes tries his luck from range but his curling effort from range flies over the bar.

78' Barnes feeds Daka down the Leicester left but Travis is well-positioned to clear the cross away.

J. Vale

S. Gallagher

76' Blackburn now make their second change with Gallagher coming off for Vale.

76' Dewsbury-Hall finds Vardy on the edge of the box and the Englishman creates space for himself but fires his effort over the bar.

N. Mendy

B. Soumaré

74' Finally, Soumare makes way with Mendy coming on in central midfield.

P. Daka

Tetê

73' Tete heads off and is replaced by Patson Daka.

T. Castagne

Ricardo Pereira

73' Leicester make a triple change. First off is Pereira with fellow right-back Castagne replacing him.

73' Tete delivers a free-kick from the right but the ball deflects of Vardy at the near post and goes out for a goal kick.

70' OFFSIDE! An incisive pass from Travis in the Blackburn midfield plays Szmodics through on goal. The attacking midfielder beats Iversen but the linesman's flag goes up and the strike is ruled out for offside.

H. Barnes

Assist

67' Barnes is given far too much space but makes the most of it by teeing up Iheanacho to score.

K. Ịheanachọ

Goal

67' GOOOALLL!! LEICESTER PULL ONE BACK!! 2-1! Straight after all that Blackburn pressure, the home side have a vital goal. A switch out to the left flank sees Barnes in acres of space. The English winger drives into the box and tees up Iheanacho who fires home from the low cross to drag his side back into this game.

66' Hedges and Gallagher combine around the edge of the box after Soumare loses the ball. The striker is forced wide of the goal and attempts to cross it to the far post but no Blackburn player is on hand to meet the cross.

64' Blackburn have dominated since going two goals ahead and Szmodics fires wide this time from outside the box as they press for a third.

63' Blackburn continue to threaten and a great cross-field ball from Carter provides Dolan with space to attack. The winger's effort is denied but the away side recycle the ball and Hedges, this time, gets on the end of the cross but fires wide.

62' Leicester have failed to have a shot on target in the second half and only one shot in total. Blackburn, meanwhile, have had three shots (two on target) and have the vital second to double their lead.

C. Brittain

J. Rankin-Costello

61' Rankin-Costello goes down after a challenge and is substituted. Brittain comes on to replace him at right-back.

58' Straight off the bench, Iheanacho is immediately in the action but the striker fires wide from just inside the box.

K. Ịheanachọ

D. Praet

58' Ịheanachọ also comes on for Praet as Leicester move to two up top.

V. Kristiansen

L. Thomas

57' In response to the goal, Leicester make a double change. First off is left-back Thomas who is replaced by Kristiansen.

56' SAVE!! Szmodics again at the heart of it and Iversen makes a huge stop to prevent a third. Szmodics combines well with Hedges inside the box and forces a big save from the Leicester goalkeeper to deny Szmodics his second.

S. Szmodics

Goal

52' GOOOOALLLL!! BLACKBURN DOUBLE THEIR LEAD!! 2-0! Szmodics with a huge goal and Blackburn have their second. Gallagher tracks back fantastically and wins the ball after a challenge on Thomas. The striker brings the ball forward and finds Szmodics on the edge of the box. Somehow, the attacking midfielder finds a way through Amartey and Pereira and pokes the ball home from inside the area.

50' There is a pause in play as Dewsbury-Hall is down receiving treatment.

48' WHAT A MISS! Another sloppy pass playing out of the back from Leicester and Soumare gives it away cheaply. The ball lands at the feet of Hedges but the winger fires the ball over the bar with a one-on-one opportunity against Iversen.

46' Leicester get the second half underway.

Leicester have had 12 efforts on goal in this first half but just three have been on target. Rodgers will undoubtedly demand a more clinical and polished performance from his side in the second half who have largely conceded chances from their own mistakes. Tomasson should be delighted with how his Blackburn side have applied themselves in the first period - they have looked dangerous when afforded space and defended resolutely. Another half like that will see the Championship side through to their first FA Cup quarter-final since the 2014-15 season.

A half full of chances for both sides but, at the break, it is Blackburn who have the lead courtesy of Dolan's 33rd-minute strike. Leicester started brightly with Pears called into action after eight minutes to make a smart double save to deny Tete and Praet. Blackburn grew into the game and were lively through Szmodics and Dolan. The two would combine, with Iversen making a big save to deny Dolan but the winger would make amends minutes later, firing home with a well-hit effort to give Blackburn the lead at the break after a sloppy pass from Amartey gave the ball away in a good area.

45' + 2' HALF-TIME: LEICESTER CITY 0-1 BLACKBURN ROVERS

45' + 2' Travis makes a brave block to deny Pereira as the right-back looks to hit one from long range. Praet delivers from the resulting corner but Leicester fail to create anything from it again.

45' There will be two minutes of additional time to end this first half.

44' Dewsbury-Hall drives into the box but takes a heavy touch which allows Carter to make a challenge and concede the corner. Praet delivers but Hyam rises well to clear.

40' Praet delivers the set piece which is met Faes but the centre-back's header is miscued and sails wide for a goal kick.

39' Hedges bundles over Dewsbury-Hall near the left corner flag and wins a foul near the flag for Leicester.

38' Praet finds himself in space down the right but his low cross is cleared away smartly by Carter.

37' Leicester pile on the pressure after going a goal down and Szmodics is forced to concede a corner. Praet delivers but the cross is poor and cleared away by the Blackburn defenders at the near post.

T. Dolan

Goal

33' GOOOOALLLL!!! BLACKBURN OPEN THE SCORING!! 1-0! He's just missed a huge chance but Dolan doesn't make a mistake this time and the visitors have the lead. Leicester try to play out the back and it is a sloppy pass by Amartey that is intercepted by the winger. Dolan drives with the ball before firing a delightful curling effort from outside the box which goes around both Faes and Iversen and into the back of the Leicester net.

29' MASSIVE SAVE! Straight from a goal kick and Blackburn create a huge chance. The header is initially won by Gallagher and flicked on by Hedges and Szmodics is played clean through. The midfielder squares it across to the unmarked Dolan but Iversen spreads himself well and makes a huge save to deny Dolan from close range.

26' Praet makes a positive burst forward from midfield but Hyam recovers well to make the challenge. Pickering clears away the loose ball for a corner which Blackburn defend.

24' Another Blackburn corner is whipped in by Hedges. Carter heads it back across the goal from the back post but Leicester manage to clear.

23' Morton takes again but Iversen rises well and punches the ball clear.

22' Blackburn again cause trouble down their left and Pickering is able to cross unmarked which Thomas clears for a corner. Morton delivers and Thomas concedes another Blackburn corner.

20' There is a pause in play as Szmodics receives treatment but the Blackburn player is okay to continue.

17' Gallagher creates space up the opposite end but his effort on goal is tame and easily saved by Iversen. The ball is recycled and Iversen is called into action again, making a good save with his feet to deny Szmodics' right-footed effort.

16' Leicester threaten again and, this time, Barnes and Vardy combine down the left before the striker sees his effort saved well by Pears from a tight angle.

L. Thomas

Yellow Card

16' Thomas commits an early poor challenge on Rankin-Costello and is booked.

12' Tete continues to look promising down the right flank as the Brazilian jinxes past three Blackburn defenders before firing into the side netting.

10' Dolan makes a bright burst down the Leicester right but Amartey shows all his experience and simply ushers the man and the ball out of play.

8' SAVE!!! Leicester cut open Blackburn early on and it is a fantastic double save from Pears. Praet feeds through Tete down the right and the winger's curling effort from close range is palmed away by the Blackburn goalkeeper. The ball falls into the path of Praet but his shot is also saved extremely well by Pears.

7' Szmodics again gets on the ball in a good area but his attempted cross deflects of Amartey and back off the Blackburn player for a goal kick.

5' Leicester respond with their first effort of the game. Pereira is given plenty of space on the edge of the box but the right-back's drive is comfortably wide of the post.

3' A bright early start from the visitors as Dolan plays Szmodics in down the left channel. The attacking midfielder looks to square it into the box for Gallagher but the Leicester defence recovers to make an important interception.

1' Blackburn get the match underway.

This is the first FA Cup encounter between Leicester City and Blackburn Rovers since the 2004-05 quarter-final, won 1-0 by Rovers with a goal from former Foxes striker Paul Dickov.

Tomasson makes just two changes from his Blackburn side's weekend victory. At left-back Pickering replaces Brittain while Sorba Thomas is cup-tied meaning Hedges starts on the right wing.

Rodgers makes six changes from the Leicester side that lost against Arsenal. In goal, Iversen replaces Ward while, in defence, Pereira, Amartey and Thomas come in instead of Castagne, Souttar and Kristiansen. In central midfield, Soumare replaces Ndidi and up top, Vardy comes in for Iheanacho.

BLACKBURN ROVERS SUBS: John Buckley, Jack Vale, Jake Garrett, Jared Harlock, Harry Leonard, Tayo Edun, Ashley Phillips, Joe Hilton, Callum Brittain.

BLACKBURN ROVERS (4-2-3-1): Aynsley Pears, Joe Rankin-Costello, Hayden Carter, Dominic Hyam, Harry Pickering; Lewis Travis, Tyler Morton; Ryan Hedges, Sammie Szmodics, Tyrhys Dolan; Sam Gallagher.

LEICESTER CITY SUBS: Alex Smithies, Nampalys Mendy, Patson Daka, Wanya Marcal-Madivadua, Victor Kristiansen, Timothy Castagne, Kelechi Iheanacho, Harry Souttar, Wilfred Ndidi.

LEICESTER CITY (4-3-3): Daniel Iversen; Ricardo Pereira, Daniel Amartey, Wout Faes, Luke Thomas; Dennis Praet, Boubakary Soumare, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall; Mateus Tete, Jamie Vardy, Harvey Barnes.

Blackburn have enjoyed a hugely successful league and cup campaign since the appointment of manager Jon Dahl Tomasson at the start of the season. The Championship side have lost just one game in all competitions since the start of 2023 and sit fourth in the Championship after three consecutive victories against Swansea, Blackpool and Queens Park Rangers. They enter the fifth round after victories against Norwich and Birmingham.

Leicester enter this encounter fresh off back-to-back defeats against tough opposition. Brendan Rodgers' side made a tough start to the Premier League and, despite an uptick in form at the start of the year, still remain just three points above the relegation zone in 14th after successive defeats to Manchester United and Arsenal. Leicester won the FA Cup in 2021 and have reached the fifth round after victories against Gillingham and Walsall.

Hello and welcome to this live commentary for the FA Cup fifth-round tie between Leicester City and Blackburn Rovers from the King Power Stadium.

Leicester City v Blackburn Rovers Live Commentary, 28/02/2023

Key Events

Match Stats

Commentary