Crystal Palace will face Leicester in an FA Cup replay at Selhurst Park after being held to a 0-0 draw.
Leicester held to goalless draw at Walkers Stadium
Crystal Palace will face Leicester in an FA Cup replay at Selhurst Park after being held to a goalless draw by the League One leaders.
Freezing conditions at the Walkers Stadium contributed to a lacklustre encounter as both sides failed to find their best form.
Leicester carved out the best opportunities but could not break the deadlock and must now finish the job away from home.
The Foxes lined up with a 4-5-1 formation and lone forward Steve Howard went close on two occasions in the early stages.
First, he sent a speculative effort just over the bar from 35 yards. Then, moments later, the burly striker found space in the area before sending a header wide of the post following a Max Gradel free-kick.
Howard was proving a real menace in the Palace box and once again he was left unmarked in the area after 15 minutes but his header was wide of the mark.
At the other end, Palace looked threatening on rare occasions, with Paul Ifill particularly lively.
And it was the former Sheffield United winger who threatened to open the scoring with a long-range volley which whistled just wide.
But, as the half drew to a close, the hosts again went close with a Joe Mattock free-kick missing the post by inches.
Intent
The visitors started the second half with much more intent and Ifill was unlucky not put them ahead in the 52nd minute.
Ifill, Palace's most dangerous player, received the ball on the edge of the area and sent a powerful shot towards goal which Leicester goalkeeper David Martin did brilliantly to keep out.
Griffit was next to try his luck from range but his shot from all of 30 yards sailed over the bar.
But while the higher league opponents began to turn up the heat Leicester showed why they have been imperious on their own turf with Howard and substitute Paul Dickov wasting good chances after some promising build-up play.
The visitors were left holding their heads in their hands with 20 minutes to go as they wasted a golden opportunity to find the net.
Martin came to Leicester's rescue once again as he produced a brilliant save to deny a looping shot from Griffit.
But it was a rare attack from Palace and they could have found themselves out of the cup when Gradel forced a brilliant save from goalkeeper Julian Speroni with a shot from the edge of the area.
| Team Name |
Leicester City |
Crystal Palace |
| Possession |
52% |
48% |
| Goals |
0 |
0 |
| Shots On Target |
1 |
1 |
| Shots Off Target |
7 |
6 |
| Blocked Shots |
2 |
1 |
| Corners |
5 |
3 |
| Fouls Conceded |
13 |
13 |
| Offsides |
6 |
6 |
| Yellow Cards |
0 |
1 |
| Red Cards |
0 |
0 |
|
