Leicester reached their second League Cup semi-final in three years, overcoming the loss of a series of attacking players.

Tony Cottee was unavailable, and Emile Heskey and Graham Fenton limped out of this match with the score still goalless.

Midfielder Neil Lennon came to the rescue with his first goal of the season after managerless Blackburn had looked the better side.

The Northern Ireland international got on the end of a Robbie Savage right-wing cross, and glanced a header past the despairing dive of John Filan into the corner of the net.

Damien Duff holds off Matt Elliot

The 1997 cup winners now play Sunderland for a place in this year's final.

Defeat was rough justice on Blackburn whose out of form record signing Kevin Davies missed a glorious chance for his first goal in 11 months, and then hit the bar.

With favourites Chelsea eliminated from the competition, there was plenty of incentive for both sides - but the first half served up little in the way of excitement on a bitterly cold evening.

Blackburn striker Kevin Gallacher produced the first threat after two minutes when his curling 25-yard free-kick was saved by Leicester 'keeper Kasey Keller away to his left.

Lennon in charge against Damien Johnson

The away side's defender Christian Dailly was then yellow-carded for a challenge on Steve Guppy after Lennon had found him in space on the left flank.

But it was 20 minutes before Filan was called into action and then he had no problem dealing with a low 20-yard effort from Heskey.

That was the sum total of the goalmouth action until Keller came to City's rescue two minutes before the interval.

Davies was put clear on the edge of the area by David Dunn's pass but his lack of confidence was visible and Keller was able to block his shot.

Johnson cannot stop Robert Ullathorne

Leicester opened the second period in more purposeful mood with Callum Davidson blocking a shot from the lively Fenton while Lennon fired wide after bursting into the area.

But luck was against Davies in the 51st minute with his shot from the angle of the area beating Keller all ends up but hitting the underside of the bar and bouncing back into play.

Leicester then suffered the setback of seeing both their strikers injured, and central defender Matt Elliott had to push up front alongside substitute Stuart Wilson.

But it was Lennon who got the winner and made it an unhappy night for Blackburn caretaker boss Tony Parkes.

Leicester: Keller, Savage, Ullathorne, Sinclair, Elliott, Walsh, Lennon, Parker, Heskey, Fenton, Guppy. Subs: Arphexad, Taggart, Zagorakis, Campbell, Wilson.

Blackburn: Filan, Kenna, Davidson, Henchoz, Gallacher, Duff, Davies, Marcolin, Johnson, Dailly, Dunn. Subs: Croft, Fettis, Perez, Thomas, Broomes.