Leicester 1 – 2 Blackburn

Blackburn have knocked Leicester out of the FA Cup, winning their fifth-round tie 2-1 at the King Power and reaching the quarter-finals for the first time since 2015.

Tyrhys Dolan and Sammie Szmodics cashed in for some terrific defending to upset the 2021 winners, although Kelechi Iheanacho pulled one back.

Brendan Rodgers celebrated four years at the King Power Stadium on Sunday and this defeat was his 200th game.

There’s no denying the progress made in the first two years, which culminated in the first FA Cup triumph in the club’s history, but this season has mainly been a slog.

Two wins in the last nine Premier League games has long halted the momentum away from the relegation zone but reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Cup will provide a natural boost ahead of the final scramble over the line.

However, the defeat by Blackburn, inconsistent in the Championship average, is another nail in the coffin of the more forgotten Foxes season.

No Rovers don’t deserve the championship. He seized every mistake – and there were many – to punish the hosts and keep their composure as Leicester launched their final attack, with Daniel Amartey hitting the post.

Six changes, including the first start for Ricardo Pereira since May 2022 after recovering from a ruptured Achilles, still did not dilute the early quality of the Foxes and they should have gone ahead after eight minutes.

Dennis Praet was unselfish when given space on the edge of the area and fed Tete who was denied by Aynsley Pears. The rebound, though, fell kindly to Praet who should have done more than direct fire at Pears.

The Rovers keeper then stood up to Jamie Vardy’s effort, but not to be outdone, the visitors created a number of dangerous openings.

He has been encouraged by Leicester’s wastefulness and the Foxes’ failure at the back has only added to his motivation.

First, Lukas Thomas’ slip allowed Dolan to have a chance before Daniel Iversen had to be alert to keep out Szmodics after the Foxes lost the ball, although the striker’s finish was poor.

Blackburn had grown into the game as the Foxes’ threat waned and the home side’s sloppy defensive nature was a cause for concern.

Even the regular long ball caused problems as a missed header from Wout Faes and a miscued one from Amartey allowed Szmodics to make Dolan unmarked.

The striker was only eight yards away from Iversen to beat but the keeper stopped the low strike.

But it was only a brief reprieve when another mistake was eventually punished by Dolan after 33 minutes.

Amartey’s attempt to play came out recklessly and unintentionally as the pass was intercepted by the forward, who darted towards goal and beat Iversen from the edge of the box.

If Leicester weren’t careful before the break, their defense was an immediate disaster and they pulled one back seven minutes into the second half.

Only Ryan Hedges’ wasteful finish ended Rovers’ double when Boubakary Soumare was robbed on the edge of his own box, but, as before, Leicester failed to heed the warning.

Minutes later, Sam Gallagher’s strong tackle on Thomas saw the striker gallop from the halfway line to find Szmodics in the corner of the box.

There’s still a lot to do, but he beats Amartey and Pereira and his shot is gently deflected into the corner.

Another Iversen saved Szmodics from making it 3-0 soon after with Leicester crumbling.

Rovers were more confident, more determined, but out of the blue the Foxes pulled a goal back with 23 minutes left.

Harvey Barnes found space for the first time and stepped back for Iheanacho to score an FA Cup goal from close range.

Pears also denied the striker with a quick finish and Amartey’s header hit the post in stoppage time.

What’s next?

Leicester visiting Southampton in the Premier League, staying at Saturday Night Football; kick off 5.30pm. Meanwhile, Blackburn back in the action of the Championship when the host Sheffield United is at 12.30pm, live on Sky Sports Soccer.