Millwall 1 Leicester City 0
A New Den sell out of over 18,000 were packed in to see if their Lions side could make it a hat-trick of Premier League scalps in this years FA Cup after defeating AFC Bournemouth and Watford in the two previous rounds here at the New Den.
Millwall now took on Premier League defending champions Leicester City for whom their current season has been one of struggle so Millwall would of fancied another 'cupset' against a team that had six changes to it for this tie.
However the Foxes still had plenty of quality in their side and on two minutes saw an early chance but Gray could not turn Musa's driven cross towards goal. On ten minutes The Lions endured a nervous moment as a ball fell kindly to Gray before he sent a curling effort beyond the post.
The Foxes had started well and continued to threaten and saw two more chances in the 16th minute when firstly an amazing ball by Kapustka found Okazaki but his close range effort was saved with Musa seeing his follow up effort blocked, and then Okazaki went close again when his glancing near post header went goalwards but somehow it was clawed away by Archer with Kapustka firing over shortly after.
Two minutes later Musa was given too much freedom to fire another effort at the Millwall net and his skidding effort shaved the post from the edge of the area and then just prior to the half hour mark the Foxes went agonisingly close to a goal for Okazaki as Kapustka's brilliant cross was just ahead of him at the far post.
It's fair to say the opening half hour had well and truly belonged to the Premier League visitors but as the half neared it's conclusion the hosts started to get a foothold in the contest and seven minutes before half time a good chance for The Lions saw Cummings find Onyedinma with a lobbed ball forward, but the latter could't turn it towards goal.
Musa sent a powerful effort zipping over the Lions bar from 20 yards two minutes later but three minutes before the break Millwall went as close as they had come thus far when Butcher sent a thumping headed effort toward the back-post but keeper Zeiler reacted well.
It had been better from The Lions and they knew that the shock was still very much on after reaching the half time whistle level although they knew the visitors should have had a lead of some sort so knew more hard work was to come.
Half Time Millwall 0 Leicester City 0
The Lions knew they needed to keep things tight for the opening exchanges of the second period although what they also needed was to not do anything silly, sadly the latter failed as seven minutes into the half Cooper was sent off for a heavy challenge on Musa and it meant The Lions would have to play the remaining forty or so minutes with ten men.
Weirdly enough though, and so often the case, the Lions played much better with a man less and just prior to the hour mark lovely skill from Morison saw him turn a defender and crossed to Onyedinma, but it was inches high for the winger, and then in the 62nd minute Morison got onto Onyedinma's cutback and struck a curling effort that wasn't far away from the top corner.
And two minutes later another threatening chance for The Lions saw Williams send a bullet directly at Zieler from range as the home crowed were starting to think they could pull off another surprise here and in the 76th minute O'brien bravely rose to meet Abdou's cross from the right but it was caught acrobatically by Foxes keeper Zieler.
Jamie Vardy was now on for the Foxes as they looked for some more firepower up front and in the 77th minute he went close when he tried his luck from range with an effort that skidded along the ground and just beyond the far post. O'brien then glanced a headed effort wide for the hosts after finding freedom in the box in what was a golden opportunity for The Lions.
However if your talking of golden chances then the visitors missed one with ten minutes to go as Archer pulled off an incredible save from pointblank range to deny Okazaki and keep the scores level. It was a super save and five minutes later with the Foxes coming on strong again another fantastic save from Archer denied Okazaki's driven effort at the end of a quick Foxes counter-attack.
The Lions almost scored with two minutes remaining when Williams shaved the post with a driven effort from outside the area but with the tie looking likely to go to a replay the hosts struck the killer blow in the 90th minute as a a reverse pass found Cummings who managed to keep his footing and slot an effort into the corner of the net and send the New Den wild with delight.
It proved to be the final act in this cup tie and Millwall had made it a hat-trick of Premier League scalps and in doing so are now in the Last Eight of the Emirates FA Cup and also heaped more pain on Leicester City as their season continued to disappoint. They missed chances yes but Millwall had more heart in the end and ground out that result and will be a threat to anyone left in this tournament.
Full Time Millwall 1 Leicester City 0
Here are some images of the day courtesy of The BBC and Millwall FC:-
Now here are the Fifth Round Proper Results in full:-
Saturday 18th February
Burnley 0 Lincoln City 1
Middlesbrough 3 Oxford United 2
Huddersfield Town 0 Manchester City 0
Millwall 1 Leicester City 0
Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 Chelsea 2
Sunday 19th February
Fulham 0 Tottenham Hotspur 3
Blackburn Rovers 1 Manchester United 2
Monday 20th February
Sutton United 0 Arsenal 2
Replay
Wednesday 1st March
Manchester City 5 Huddersfield Town 1
Well the FA Cup keeps on giving and result of the day was no question at Turf Moor where Vanarama Conference National side Lincoin City scored a late winner against Premier League Burnley as the Lincolnshire side continued their remarkable run in this seasons competition. Their reward is a trip to the Emirates for a Quarter Final showdown with the mighty Arsenal, the stuff of dreams eh. Now The Gunners ended another non-league sides FA Cup adventure at the Last 16 stage as they defeated a plucky Sutton United at Gander Green Lane in a match which the home side gained alot of credit from. Millwall (my featured side right now) continue to surprise after they knocked out Premier League champions Leicester City and now face Tottenham Hotspur in an eagerly anticipated London derby at White Hart Lane whilst Huddersfield Town took Manchester City to a replay and took the lead in that although eventually fell to a 5-1 defeat to end their cup run for the season.
Anyway here is the Quarter Final line up:-
Saturday 11th March
Middlesbrough VS Manchester City (12:15pm, Live on BT Sport Two)
Arsenal VS Lincoln City (5:30pm, Live on BT Sport Two)
Sunday 12 March
Tottenham Hotspur VS Millwall (2pm, Live on BBC One)
Monday 13 March
Chelsea VS Manchester United (7:45pm, Live on BBC One)
So the Quarter Finals begin at lunchtime at The Riverside Stadium and end on Monday evening with that titanic clash at Stamford Bridge. My featured game is of course Sundays big London derby at White Hart Lane between Tottenham Hotspur and Millwall, the fourth round running the League One Lions have faced Premier League opposition although this is their first one away from home although they will still pose a threat no question. An intriguing weekend awaits!!!
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