Leicester City secure their place in the FA Cup fourth round, after beating a resolute Gillingham side 1-0 in a cagey affair in the third round.
With 79 places between the two clubs, Leicester came into this one as clear favourites, but the Foxes have struggled with lower league opposition in recent years, after being knocked out by Millwall, Newport County and Nottingham Forest.
Brendan Rodgers gave starts to young players Kasey McAteer and Lewis Brunt with Rodgers making eight changes to the side that were beaten by Fulham.
Gillingham started well and were pressing high on Leicester, with the Premier League outfit struggling to climatise to their surroundings and the condition of the pitch.
The Gills had chances in the first half, with a couple falling to the feet of captain Shaun Williams, with Leicester struggling to create any real chances in the first 45 minutes.
Leicester started the second half much better, and it wasn’t long until the Foxes opened the scoring, with Kelechi Iheanacho firing into the top corner.
Leicester had opportunities to take the game away from Gillingham, but failed to convert their chances, and managed the last 15 minutes to progress to the next round.
Story of the match
Leicester dominated the ball in the opening first five minutes as they looked to adjust to the standard of the pitch, with a few players slipping early doors.
The Foxes worked an early opening, with Marc Albrighton finding Jamie Vardy, who had drifted in behind the Gillingham backline, but the striker’s volley was saved well.
Gillingham responded well with an opportunity for themselves. Nampalys Mendy was dispossessed in midfield by Dom Jefferies, who charges at Çaglar Söyüncü, before firing a low effort towards goal, but Daniel Iversen is down quickly to save.
The Gills continued to assert themselves with a half chance falling to the feet of 36-year-old Shaun Williams, whose goal-bound effort is blocked by Mendy.
The captain Williams is an unlikely goalscorer, but he was looking the most likely for Gillingham. This time the Irishman is unmarked at the front post and his flicked header is gathered by Iversen.
Leicester finished the first half better, with Iheanacho almost finding the far corner with a curled effort, but Rodgers will be disappointed with what he has seen after a frustrating performance from his side.
The East Midlands side needed a reaction going into the second half, after a first half that lacked quality. They started quickly with Albrighton testing the awareness of Jake Turner in the Gillingham net with a vicious volley.
The second half started at a much higher pace, with Gillingham growing in confidence that there might be a ‘cupset’ on the cards at Priestfield Stadium.
Gillingham almost had the opener, with Jefferies finding a pocket of space in the penalty area, but his effort is blocked well by Jannick Vestergaard, but Leicester couldn’t clear and the ball found its way to Hakeeb Adelakun, whose effort was drilled wide.
Leicester had the opening goal in the 56th minute, with Iheanacho slamming home after a game of pinball in the Gillingham box. Academy product Kasey McAteer’s effort was saved by Turner but the ball landed at the feet of the Nigerian who calmly prodded the ball into the top left corner.
Rodgers’ side had a spring in their step and were looking to take the game out of Gillingham’s reach.
A misunderstanding in the Gillingham defence played Vardy through, but Turner stands strong and makes a brilliant save down to his left to deny Vardy.
Spaces were opening up for Leicester as they looked to put the game to bed, with Gillingham pushing for an equaliser.
Vardy was beginning to have a bigger impact on the game, with the striker driving into the box and firing wide. Iheanacho was furious as he was open for a cutback.
Patson Daka replaced Vardy and almost made an instant impact, with the Zambian inches away from converting Iheanacho’s low cross and putting the Foxes into the hat for the next round.
Leicester had opportunities to extend their lead, with Gillingham committing men to find an equaliser, but the Foxes stood strong and managed to see the final ten minutes out.
Player of the match
Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City)
In a game that lacked quality the Nigerian produced a moment that was enough to take his side into the next round.
Iheanacho loves playing in the FA Cup scoring 15 goals in 21 games in the competition, with the striker instrumental in helping Leicester loft their first FA Cup in 2021.
The striker looked threatening and could of had a couple more goal contributions if Leicester were a bit sharper in attack.