Radebe dismissed as Leeds struggle to contain Heskey

These two teams met at exactly the same stage - the fourth round - of the Worthington Cup last season and it took two Leicester goals in the final two minutes to overcome Leeds then, as they went on to reach the final where they lost to Tottenham. Leicster's intentions of repeating that feat, led to an even closer match, as both teams cancelled each other out to force extra time in a match that had to be settled on the night.

These two teams met at exactly the same stage - the fourth round - of the Worthington Cup last season and it took two Leicester goals in the final two minutes to overcome Leeds then, as they went on to reach the final where they lost to Tottenham. Leicster's intentions of repeating that feat, led to an even closer match, as both teams cancelled each other out to force extra time in a match that had to be settled on the night.

Despite the best efforts of both sides on a chilly night in the East Midlands, as time wore on it became clear they were paying the price for last weekend's exertions in the FA Cup and chances throughout the second half were at a real premium. Yet with two minutes of normal time remaining, Leicester had the game's best chance when Stefan Oakes sent in a free-kick but Matt Elliott saw his header cleared off the line, with nothing to spare, by the substitute Matthew Jones.

From the ensuing corner Steve Walsh then had an effort blocked by Lucas Radebe six yards out. With the game in injury-time a late break by Leicester's Emile Heskey was rudely ended by Radebe, who was sent off for his second yellow card.

As befits the team at the top of the Premiership and playing in their third cup tie of one description or another in seven days, and fourth in five games, Leeds dominated the first half. Not that they had it all their own way, with Heskey a constant and dangerous presence.

Leeds' interpassing was far slicker than their hosts, yet they only threatened Tim Flowers, in the Leicester goal, twice before half-time. The first came with just 11 minutes on the clock and from an unusual source, as the wing-back Gary Kelly tried his luck from 25 yards, but Flowers saved. The second, after 25 minutes, came as Michael Bridges scooped a pass over the Leicester defence only for Harry Kewell to head fractions wide.

Martin O'Neill, the Leicester manager, had a depleted side as he was without Steve Guppy, one of his most influential players, who is nursing a knee injury. Frank Sinclair, the central defender, was another injured absentee. In their places, came Oakes and Walsh respectively. To add insult to the injury list, the midfielder Neil Lennon had to come off after 15 minutes.

David O'Leary, O'Neill's counterpart, was able to recall David Batty for his first match since November, the England midfielder having apparently recovered from his Achilles injury. However, it proved a pointless exercise, as Batty too was forced off early with an injury.

Heskey's pace appeared to be the main route through Leeds, and after 22 minutes his shot flew past Nigel Martyn's post, then eight minutes later, Walsh sent a header flashing wide from another Oakes free-kick.

Both sides made concerted efforts to break the deadlock after the interval. With barely a minute gone, Ian Harte chipped his pass into the penalty box but Bridges' first touch let him down, forcing him wide.

A minute later Leicester went close when Robbie Savage's cross was met by Theo Zagorakis, but his volley was off target. Yet it was Leeds who still promised greater things, and from Harte's 50-yard pass with 52 minutes gone, Kewell found the space to lob the goalkeeper but his effort cleared the crossbar as well.

Leicester City (3-5-2): Flowers; Taggart, Walsh, Elliott; Oakes, Izzett, Lennon (Zagorakis, 15) Savage, Impey; Cottee, Heskey. Substitutes: Arphexad (gk), Gunnlaugsson, Gilchrist, Campbell.

Leeds United (4-4-2): Martyn; Radebe, Woodgate, Harte, Kelly; Batty (Jones, 21) Bowyer, Bakke, McPhail; Kewell, Bridges (Duberry, f-t). Substitutes: Huckerby, Robinson, Mills.

Referee: G Barber (Tring).