FA Cup: CITY 4, Leicester 2

So there it is, last nights performance is one which will live in the memory of every City fan for quite some time. Honoring City legend Neil Young the City players originally lined up in the 1969 Red and Black striped kit before then changing back into the traditional Sky Blue. I thought that was a very classy touch from the people at City. Hopefully, for the City faithful this game will be the last in what was a trio of games that we should have won comfortably but didn’t. In the end we had Kolorov’s late strike to put clear distance between us and the Championship side in the FA Cup replay at the City of Manchester Stadium.
In truth this, like the last game against Wolves, was done and dusted at halftime and should have allowed us to see the win through with little pressure. Adam Johnson missed a sitter early on for City before Captain Tevez put us ahead with yet another sensational goal. That lead was only to last four minutes before a rather soft penalty was given against Vieira, which Gallagher, starting back to goal, dispatched. Close to twenty minutes later City were back in front after Vieira tapped in a half saved shot which was the result of a Zabaletta cut back and a Silva shot. Before the replays had been shown on the TV City were breaking again and the two wide players Silva and Johnson (who were said to not be able to play together) had broken through the Foxes back line and Johnson calmly netted City’s third. At this point, at home you would think City would be cruising. Second half came and Tevez was felled in the area and despite it being a clear goal scoring opportunity neither a red nor yellow card was issued to Hobbs. Tevez stepped up to the spot and after some distraction dispatched the ball cleanly at the keeper who watched it go over the bar for a corner.
Even then you could still see City scoring before Leicester but again in the last ten minutes it was the away team to score and set up a nail biting finale. The referee played a one two before allowing a clear offside position to continue before Dyer netted. Memories of Saturdays 4-3 ending came flooding back and as Manchester City messed about in and around the Leicester penalty area towards the end it looked like the chance had been wasted. That is until Kolorov got the ball on the edge of the box and with two touches, one to control it and one to place it City were finally assured of their progression through to the next round of the FA Cup.
City can celebrate the victory and some respects it really was a good performance from the Citizens. When we attacked we moved the ball quickly and with great assuredness. However there will be slight concerns over the concentrations and skill level of some of the players. No disrespect to Leicester or Wolves but we can not be having the likes of Lescotts lack of pace or rash tackles against the likes of United in a few weeks time. The good news is I don’t think we will as clearly he is firmly now a utility player at City and in crunch games will warm the bench at best.