Foxes Produce FA Cup Shock To See Off Norwich
Leicester have won 23 of the 58 previous meetings, with Norwich coming out on top 22 times, including the Foxes’ last trip to the stadium in February 2020 - their final away game before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ahead of the latest encounter against the newly promoted Canaries at Carrow Road, LCFC.com recalls a classic match-up between the two sides in the FA Cup…
Norwich City 1 Leicester City 2
Saturday 18 February, 2012
Carrow Road
FA Cup
Nigel Pearson’s Leicester City had started their 2011/12 FA Cup campaign with a third round triumph over fellow Championship side Nottingham Forest, requiring a replay to comprehensively win 4-0 after a goalless draw at the City Ground.
Swindon Town were next to be overcome at King Power Stadium, with Jermaine Beckford’s double enough to seal progression into the fifth round, where they would travel to meet Premier League outfit Norwich.
The visitors made the perfect start, striking as early as five minutes into the contest when Ben Marshall’s in-swinging free-kick was headed home by the towering Sean St Ledger.
Although Leicester had chances to double the advantage, chiefly through Marshall’s low effort, the home side were given a chance to level matters midway through the half.
Kasper Schmeichel was adjudged to have taken down Elliott Bennett while trying to claim a high ball and referee Mike Dean pointed to the spot.
Despite Schmeichel’s heroics, brilliantly saving Wes Hoolahan’s penalty with a strong right palm, the Republic of Ireland international was able to squeeze the rebound into the corner.
The Foxes felt aggrieved not to retake the lead before the break when another Marshall corner wasn’t dealt with by Norwich and Wes Morgan’s clever flick appeared to have crossed the line before Elliot Ward’s clearance.
The officials were unmoved, however, and it remained level at half-time. An enthralling cup contest continued to play out in the second period, with both sides going close before Leicester’s top scorer struck a decisive blow.
St. Ledger’s long punt forward was cushioned down by Beckford for his strike partner David Nugent, who, after controlling the ball, dribbled past Leon Barnett and into the box, before calmly finishing beyond Jed Steer.
With 20 minutes to go, there was still time for more drama – and Norwich captain Hoolahan very nearly provided it, skipping past Richie Wellens and firing narrowly wide of target.
Beckford came close to wrapping up the game late on when he hit the crossbar but a 2-1 scoreline was enough to see Pearson’s men safely into the last eight of the competition for the first time in eight years and beat Norwich for the fifth consecutive FA Cup fixture in a run stretching back to 1954.
That’s where Leicester’s cup journey would end, however, as Chelsea proved too strong in the quarter-final at Stamford Bridge, despite goals from Beckford and Marshall.
City: Schmeichel; Peltier, Morgan, St Ledger, Kennedy (Konchesky 66'); Marshall (Delfouneso 66'), Danns, Wellens, Dyer; Nugent, Beckford.
Subs not used: Smith, Mills, Moussa, Hopper, Howard.
Goals: St. Ledger 5’, Nugent 71’.
Attendance: 26,658