Mahrez’s making amends for Vardy

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY fan Jamie Vardy dumped Sheffield United out of the FA Cup with a goal that booked Leicester’s place in the last eight.

England striker Vardy headed home after 66 minutes from a cross by Riyad Mahrez, who was welcomed back by Leicester fans from his self-imposed 10-day exile.

Mahrez made his first home appearance since skipping training and two games in a stand-off over Leicester’s refusal to sell him to Manchester City.

A few boos for the Algerian were largely drowned out by cheers and he responded by laying on the winner for Vardy, who grew up supporting the Blades’ bitter Steel City rivals.

There was an early scare for Leicester, when Blades winger James Wilson powered down the left and found room to shoot. But his low effort was held well by Kasper Schmeichel in the Leicester goal and the hosts then embarked on a spell of dominance, with Demarai Gray prominent.

First it was Vardy who saw a shot deflected wide for a corner that the Blades defended well, but Gray was soon tormenting the visitors. He sent a shot high and wide

LEICESTER CITY SHEFFIELD UTD

after doing well to engineer a shooting chance, then showed great balance to tee up Vardy, who curled an effort narrowly wide.

The pressure continued to mount on the visitors with Wilfred Ndidi forcing Blades keeper Jamal Blackman into his first save after 22 minutes, pushing away a 20-yard shot.

And moments later Ben Chilwell surged forwards from left-back to set up a shooting chance for Kelechi Iheanacho, but his effort was charged down just inside the penalty area.

Sheffield United might have taken the lead against the run of play when the ball bounced around the Leicester area and sat up for Enda Stevens, who was denied by a fine block from former Blade Harry Maguire.

Mahrez then came to life with a superb through-ball for Vardy, who was thwarted by Blackman’s low save.

And Gray fired just wide of the near post from a Chilwell cross. Mahrez showed some more clever touches early in the second half as the Foxes worked their way slowly back on the front foot. But their first effort on goal after half-time did not arrive until the 57th minute, when Ndidi fired just over the crossbar from outside the box.

Then another clever spell of passing gave Vardy a chance to drive into the box but his cross-shot was blocked.

Gray’s clever turn and well-judged pass sent Mahrez scampering down the right but his touch, for once, let him down and he ran it out for a goal-kick.

Mahrez laid on the opener after 66 minutes, however, as he twisted to shift the ball on to his left foot and delivered a cross to Vardy, who looped a header from beyond the far post over Blackman and in.

Gray almost doubled the lead with a curling shot with Blackman saving well.

But, soon afterwards, it could have been 1-1 as Schmeichel made a superb, low save to keep out a shot from George Baldock – but Leicester saw out the victory.

LEICESTER (4-2-3-1): Goal: