Carson’s on mend

NAMPALYS MENDY was Leicester’s hero as his penalty shoot-out winner set-up a fifth-round tie with holders Manchester City.

It piled the pressure on Southampton boss Mark Hughes whose side slipped into the Premier League relegation zone at the weekend.

Defeat at Fulham put Hughes on the brink after winning only three of his 21 top-flight games in charge.

And he had no luck here as Saints hit the bar twice through Nathan Redmond and Manolo Gabbiadini in the second half.

Youngster Michael Obafemi also missed a sitter from the rebound from Redmond’s shot. Southampton also had a ‘goal’ controversially ruled out by VAR after Redmond was adjudged to have handled before Steven Davis struck.

In the shoot-out, Davis netted first for Saints before Christian Fuchs, Pierre-emile Hojbjerg, Marc Albrighton, Nathan Redmond, Caglar Soyuncu, Jannik Vestergaard, Demarai Gray, Cedric and Jamie Vardy all scored.

In sudden death Gabbiadini was the first to miss as Danny Ward saved, leaving sub Mendy to win it.

It finally settled the tie which was due to be played last month, but was postponed after the death of Foxes chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha in a helicopter crash. Following the tragedy, the Foxes’ stars have targeted silverware in his honour.

In a tight first half, Saints had the best chances as Obafemi and Redmond dragged shots wide. But Leicester nearly went in ahead when Vestergaard almost diverted Vardy’s cut-back into his own net. The Foxes improved after the break with Kelechi Iheanacho putting a header over at the back post. The striker was promptly subbed as boss Claude Puel tried to shake his side up.

But Saints should have taken the lead in the 63rd minute as Redmond crashed a left-foot shot against the bar and Obafemi volleyed the follow up wide.

The impressive Redmond also teed up skipper Hojbjerg for a shot from the edge of the box which Ward saved.

Leicester had a string of efforts as Fousseni Diabate, sub Shinji Okazaki and Gray had shots wide from distance.

But they got a major break in the 82nd minute when VAR ruled Redmond had handled before sub Davis fired in for Southampton – with the ‘goal’ scrubbed off.

There was more drama to come in stoppage-time when Ward tipped a free-kick from sub Gabbiadini on to the woodwork.

And Leicester made the most of the escape to set up a home tie with Manchester City – who beat them on penalties in the same competition last year – on December 18.

HE’S TOP OF THE SPOTS Players mob penalty hero Nampalys Mendy after his winning spot kick sealed a date with Man City DAMIEN DUFF claims he would swim to Scotland to land a coaching job with Celtic.The Republic of Ireland legend is closing in on a reserve team coaching role with the SPL champions.Duff is currently the under-15 boss at Shamrock Rovers.“I spoke to them last week and went to the training ground and met everybody, obviously it was so impressive,” he said last night.“For me and most Irishmen, it’s one of the biggest clubs in the world. There is a role going there with the reserves and I’m still talking to them.“I’m absolutely obsessed with football and with learning and improving and that could be an amazing environment to do so.”And Duff added: “I would swim over to work there. It’s an amazing club and hopefully something will happen.” NORTHERN IRELAND goalkeeper Trevor Carson has thanked hospital staff following his diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis.The Motherwell No.1 was ruled out for the remainder of the season and insists he “is on the mend”.Carson said: “It is at times like these you realise how lucky you are.“It is a long road ahead but I feel positive and I know things could have been much worse.“I for one may have taken the NHS for granted but we are lucky to have them.”

HIT HARD Steve Evans received one-game ban