The FA Cup - Fourth Round
BrentfordBrentford1LeicesterLeicester City3

Brentford 1-3 Leicester: Foxes overcome scare to reach FA Cup fifth round

By Stephan ShemiltBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section FA Cupcomments186

Premier League high-flyers Leicester City had to come from behind to avoid an FA Cup upset at Championship promotion hopefuls Brentford.

The hosts took an early lead when Mads Bech Sorensen poked in and had the better chances during a first half when a much-changed Leicester side struggled for fluency.

But the Foxes were transformed after the break, equalising 49 seconds after the restart as James Maddison fed Cengiz Under for a sweeping finish.

Five minutes later, Youri Tielemans was tripped in the box and converted the resulting penalty, while Maddison deservedly got on the scoresheet by following in a rebound.

Just as they did when these two sides met at this stage last season, Leicester advance to the fifth round and they will face Brighton next.

Brentford are yet to win against the Foxes in seven attempts in the FA Cup, and have not beaten them in any competition since 1953.

But they still played their part in an entertaining cup tie and showed how they were able to beat four Premier League sides on their run to this season's Carabao Cup semi-finals.

This was fourth in the Championship versus third in the top flight, albeit the two sides contained a combined 15 changes from their league matches in midweek.

The visitors made a swift start, Under causing problems down the right, only for Brentford to go ahead in the sixth minute.

Daniel Amartey needlessly conceded a corner and, when a deflection wrongfooted stand-in Foxes keeper Danny Ward, Sorensen was able to stretch and stab home.

In response, Leicester had plenty of the ball, but Brentford created better chances. Tariqe Fosu and Saman Ghoddos both forced Ward into smart saves.

Behind at the break, Leicester exploded into the second half. Almost straight from the kick-off, Maddison beat two men, then cleverly found Under, who came in from the right to finish inside the far post.

Even before the penalty, Ayoze Perez had two clear chances, only for the pressure to tell when Fosu tripped Tielemans.

From that point, Leicester's control was only interrupted when a long throw from Sorensen caused problems in the penalty area just before the excellent Maddison punished Luke Daniels' inability to hold Harvey Barnes' shot.

'What a player Maddison is'

Brentford manager Thomas Frank: "We delivered a decent performance, especially in the first half. But you always talk about how they will make a fast start in the second half.

"It was a bit of magic by Maddison - what a player by the way. His development has been fantastic.

"That assist, his reaction was so quick, his touch and decision making are incredible and so is his work rate. That's what makes him a top, top player."

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers told BT Sport: "I thought the performance throughout the game was very good. We started well but gave away a cheap goal.

"The rhythm and flow of our game in the second half was exceptional. It's a very good win. Brentford really tested us.

"We've got goals in the team, players playing with a high level of confidence. There were other moments where we could have scored more.

"If we want to challenge and want to win things, we have to go deep into competitions. I'm very happy with the physicality of the players from that point of view."

Leicester on the spot - the stats

  • Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers has reached the fifth round in his past four FA Cup campaigns - twice with Liverpool and twice with Leicester.
  • Brentford have been eliminated from 13 of their past 14 FA Cup ties against top-flight opponents, with a 2-1 victory over Sunderland in January 2006 the exception in this run.
  • Leicester have scored three or more goals in consecutive FA Cup games for the first time since November 2008.
  • No Premier League side have won more penalties (12), or converted more (10), than the Foxes this season.
  • Maddison has been directly involved in 13 goals in 24 games for Leicester in 2020-21 (nine goals, four assists), one more than he managed in 38 matches last term (12).
  • Brentford defender Sorensen scored his first senior goal in English football on his 40th appearance.

Line-ups

Brentford

Formation 4-3-3

  • 28Daniels
  • 30Rasmussen
  • 5Pinnock
  • 29Bech Sørensen
  • 36Stevens
  • 31ZamburekBooked at 21minsSubstituted forHaygarthat 84'minutes
  • 27JaneltSubstituted forJensenat 64'minutes
  • 20GhoddosSubstituted forGilbertat 79'minutes
  • 7CanósSubstituted forPressleyat 64'minutes
  • 15Forss
  • 24Fosu-Henry

Substitutes

  • 1Raya
  • 3Henry
  • 8Jensen
  • 22Dalsgaard
  • 34Pressley
  • 37Gilbert
  • 38Haygarth
  • 39Gordon

Leicester

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 12Ward
  • 21Ricardo PereiraSubstituted forCastagneat 69'minutes
  • 18Amartey
  • 4Söyüncü
  • 33Thomas
  • 24MendySubstituted forNdidiat 70'minutes
  • 8Tielemans
  • 19ÜnderSubstituted forIheanachoat 76'minutes
  • 10Maddison
  • 15Barnes
  • 17PérezSubstituted forAlbrightonat 81'minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Justin
  • 3Fofana
  • 6Evans
  • 11Albrighton
  • 14Iheanacho
  • 20Choudhury
  • 25Ndidi
  • 27Castagne
  • 35Jakupovic
Referee:
Michael Oliver

Match Stats

Home TeamBrentfordAway TeamLeicester
Possession
Home39%
Away61%
Shots
Home10
Away16
Shots on Target
Home4
Away6
Corners
Home6
Away7
Fouls
Home13
Away12

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Brentford 1, Leicester City 3.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Brentford 1, Leicester City 3.

  3. Post update

    Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  4. Post update

    Foul by Marcus Forss (Brentford).

  5. Post update

    Youri Tielemans (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  6. Post update

    Foul by Tariqe Fosu-Henry (Brentford).

  7. Post update

    Attempt missed. Aaron Pressley (Brentford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.

  8. Post update

    Attempt saved. Marcus Forss (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

  9. Post update

    Foul by Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City).

  10. Post update

    Aaron Pressley (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  11. Substitution

    Substitution, Brentford. Maxwell Haygarth replaces Jan Zamburek.

  12. Post update

    Foul by James Maddison (Leicester City).

  13. Post update

    Mathias Jensen (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  14. Substitution

    Substitution, Leicester City. Marc Albrighton replaces Ayoze Pérez.

  15. Post update

    Ayoze Pérez (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  16. Post update

    Foul by Mathias Jensen (Brentford).

  17. Post update

    Attempt missed. Tariqe Fosu-Henry (Brentford) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box misses to the left.

  18. Substitution

    Substitution, Brentford. Alex Gilbert replaces Saman Ghoddos.

  19. Post update

    Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Daniel Amartey.

  20. Substitution

    Substitution, Leicester City. Kelechi Iheanacho replaces Cengiz Ünder.

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Comments

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186 comments

  • Comment posted by 6thTier-Vikings-Pool, at 16:36 24 Jan

    Off topic I know but I've just read Fenerbache have set up a system so fans can text and donate to pay towards Ozil's contract. Regular everyday people being asked to donate money to someone who until recently was on roughly £18 million a year. Anyone else getting a little sickened by football?

    • Reply posted by DaveP1982, at 17:55 24 Jan

      DaveP1982 replied:
      Football is a joke. Like when they had a whip round for the millionaire Scudamore

  • Comment posted by Simple Simon Met A Pieman, at 16:27 24 Jan

    Why Maddison isn't in the England squad I really don't know...

    • Reply posted by boogeywoogey, at 16:28 24 Jan

      boogeywoogey replied:
      Southgate is a yes man, it is sadly all about money and sponsorships, not about individual talent.

  • Comment posted by Blabberwocky, at 16:35 24 Jan

    Made us work hard for the result. Well played Brentford, good luck for the season.

  • Comment posted by Herding cats, at 16:36 24 Jan

    Decent showing from Brentford and fair play to them and their capable team. Professional performance by Leicester in the second half, I can see them doing well in this comp and the premier league, good mix of youth (Barnes, Thomas, Maddison etc) and experience (Vardy, Schmeichel, Evans etc) good luck to Brentford but Leicester just too strong in the second half today.

    • Reply posted by Hawzeeboy, at 17:00 24 Jan

      Hawzeeboy replied:
      Hard to disagree with you. No disgrace for Bees and hopefully we’ll get over the line this year.

  • Comment posted by Duquesne Whistle, at 16:27 24 Jan

    Very good first half from Brentford and they had me worried. Whatever was said at half time certainly seemed to work.
    Thought our penalty looked a little soft, but I also thought it was a penalty.
    If you'd asked Brighton and Leicester fans if they'd take a game against each other to reach the quarter finals, both would have taken it.
    Unlucky for a weakened Brentford. I'd like them to get promoted

    • Reply posted by wecandream, at 16:30 24 Jan

      wecandream replied:
      No yet another Dive

  • Comment posted by lawman, at 16:28 24 Jan

    Some player that Maddison..

  • Comment posted by SilverFox, at 16:26 24 Jan

    Fabulous from the Foxes when they switched on. Hard to play against when they click. Valiant effort from Bees. They’re a smashing little club who may well be destined to be a smashing bigger club in the next few years.

    • Reply posted by 007 Adam, at 18:30 24 Jan

      007 Adam replied:
      17.5k new stadium and not a possibility of adding one extra seat given the constraints of the ground, suggests they will never be a smashing big club. Nevertheless, they seem to do things well and hope they get to have their one season in the top flight soon.

  • Comment posted by ezeeryder, at 16:55 24 Jan

    As a neutral would like to see Southampton and Leicester final

    • Reply posted by 007 Adam, at 18:32 24 Jan

      007 Adam replied:
      As a Leicester fan, I would quite like to see a Leicester b Wycombe final. Revenge is long overdue...

  • Comment posted by John Leicester, at 16:25 24 Jan

    Youri Tielemans

    Is becoming one of the most complete midfielders in the league

    • Reply posted by villapark01, at 17:04 24 Jan

      villapark01 replied:
      Complete acrobat.....

  • Comment posted by Allcanseeit, at 16:25 24 Jan

    Why does Robbie Savage dress like a middle aged school headmistress? Today his Zara duffle coat was complemented by a pair of Kossock style balloon trousers and big girl ankle boots 👢

    • Reply posted by mypubteamisbetterthanyourpubteam, at 16:35 24 Jan

      mypubteamisbetterthanyourpubteam replied:
      Well, he has that big girl vibe to maintain

  • Comment posted by Foxes, at 16:45 24 Jan

    Maddison and under absolutely brilliant today, a constant threat especially in the second half. Brentford played very well, and have some good young players. Good game all round

    • Reply posted by villapark01, at 16:59 24 Jan

      villapark01 replied:
      In a non contact sport and diving everytime any Brentford player got near him. Today's players are praised as great players - but it has become a non contact BORING game. You have players stepping out of the way if the likes of Maddison as they threaten to dive if a player comes near them. KDB is a great player - where no one tackles him. Most of KDB's passes go to the opposition if you watch.🤔

  • Comment posted by Nathflip, at 16:30 24 Jan

    Not a fan of the yellow ball. Get the orange one out next time dearys. Well played brentford decent team, could replace a few in the bottom 10 of the prem.

    • Reply posted by everythinginmoderation, at 16:54 24 Jan

      everythinginmoderation replied:
      Correct me if I am wrong ... but isn't that the idea of promotion and relegation ? ... dermmmm ....

  • Comment posted by HarryJsAllstar, at 16:53 24 Jan

    I don’t understand how a competition can have VAR at some games but not others. VAR clearly affects decisions, and, therefore, results of games. So how can it be fair to have only some games with VAR. All or none, surely.

    • Reply posted by DaveP1982, at 17:46 24 Jan

      DaveP1982 replied:
      Quite right. Also, Shrewsbury could postpone their match because of Covid yet Villa couldn't. I'm not having a gripe about Villa having to field the kids but surely the rules should be the same for every club?

  • Comment posted by Alex A, at 16:27 24 Jan

    Foxes could do the double at this rate

    • Reply posted by bejesus, at 16:36 24 Jan

      bejesus replied:
      Don't forget the Europa...

  • Comment posted by J3YB, at 18:50 24 Jan

    Leicester look like the real deal now. Normally the traditional powerhouse clubs can nick players off of clubs like Leicester. Not any more!

    • Reply posted by mac, at 18:56 24 Jan

      mac replied:
      Rubbish, they are just getting the benefit of being an average team in a poor league. As for today they’ve beaten Brentford. Why do modern “footie” fans over hype everything?

  • Comment posted by charly, at 18:04 24 Jan

    Southgate ! Get Maddison !!!

    • Reply posted by Parcel of Rogues, at 19:03 24 Jan

      Parcel of Rogues replied:
      Only picks his favourites.

  • Comment posted by Gabriel, at 16:26 24 Jan

    Brentford is a good team. Hope to see them in the premier league next season

    • Reply posted by 007 Adam, at 18:33 24 Jan

      007 Adam replied:
      Surely you mean, Brentford are a good team.

  • Comment posted by David McManus, at 16:26 24 Jan

    The foxes march on, excellent result

  • Comment posted by Finkelstein, at 17:47 24 Jan

    Well done Brentford for having a go. They can hold their heads high. I would love to see them promoted as they are a breath of fresher. Leicester too good when it mattered and had the firepower in midfield and attack.

  • Comment posted by MCobs, at 17:24 24 Jan

    A valiant effort by Brentford. Yet ultimately our class shone through up. And proof for me today again that Amartey is a distinctly average footballer

    • Reply posted by Parcel of Rogues, at 17:57 24 Jan

      Parcel of Rogues replied:
      Very unfair, getting his fitness back and a useful squad player.

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