Leicester tame Stags

Andy Impey tackles Bobby Hassell

Leicester 2-1 Mansfield

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James Scowcroft scored twice to defeat Mansfield and ensure there would be no repeat of last season's shock defeat by lower league opposition for Leicester.

The striker scored either side of Chris Greenacre's 21st goal of the season for Mansfield.

The Foxes will be relieved to have safely negotiated their passage to the fourth round, having fallen to Wycombe at the quarter-final stage last season.

  Key moments

24 mins: James Scowcroft puts Leicester in front

38 mins: Chris Greenacre levels the score

62 mins: Scowcroft hits the winner

Third division Mansfield produced a spirited display and made their Premiership opponents work hard for their victory.

Greenacre proved his prolific form is not consigned to the lower divisions and caused the Leicester defence problems all match.

At times the Foxes looked in disarray as they lacked the organisation that missing skipper Matt Elliot would surely have provided.

Nerves were rattling at Filbert Street right up until Scowcroft's powerful header restored his side's advantage in the second-half.

We had 23 efforts at their goal with 12 on target and if we had got that third goal I could have got my cigar out

Dave Bassett
Leicester manager

The Stags had almost taken the lead early on as Wayne Cordon's low shot forced a smart save from Ian Walker.

Pressing all over the pitch and launching into a number of biting tackles, the visitors were making their hosts uncomfortable.

An upset looked a very real prospect as Leicester struggled to find their rhythm.

They should have settled when Scowcroft put them in front, but still seemed to lack belief.

Chris Greeneacre slips past Muzzy Izzet

Perhaps Mansfield were aware of Leicester's lack of conviction and determinedly set about restoring parity.

They achieved it when Greenacre reacted first to Corden's cross to glance a header past Walker.

The equaliser magnified the anxiety around the ground, and Greenacre was duly mobbed by the rest of his team.

Whatever Dave Bassett said at half-time, it had the desired effect on his Leicester side.

Although Mansfield enjoyed early possession, they did not carry the same threat of the first half.

We played well in the first half and were probably the better team

Billy Dearden
Mansfield manager

The home side began to carve out opportunities, and Robbie Savage, Brian Deane and Frank Sinclair all went close.

It was no surprise when Scowcroft scored his and Leicester's second, and this time it did calm the teams nerves.

Muzzy Izzet could have sealed the victory when he was sent clear by Dennis Wise.

But his chip drifted wide of the post.

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Leicester: Walker, Impey, Marshall (Akinbiyi 45), Sinclair, Stewart (Heath 45), Savage, Wise, Izzet, Rogers, Deane, Scowcroft.

Subs Not Used: Flowers, Oakes, Jones.

Booked: Scowcroft.

Mansfield: Pilkington, Hassell, Robinson, Barrett, Tankard, Lawrence (White 87), Williamson, Pemberton (Asher 73), Corden, Greenacre, Bradley.

Subs Not Used: Bingham, Reddington, Jervis.

Attendance: 14,466

Referee: P Durkin