FA Cup Round 3 Replay Conclusions from Forest

Leicester City	4-0	Nottingham Forest
	(HT 2-0)
Boateng og 7 Beckford 30, 50, 57

King Power Stadium, attendance: 16,210
BBC Match Report

Home Team: Schmeichel, Peltier, Konchesky, Mills, St Ledger, Dyer (Kennedy 81), Wellens, Danns, Gallagher, Beckford (Howard 80), Nugent

Away Team: Camp, Cunningham, Gunter, Boateng (McGugan 46), Anderson, Reid , Greening (McGoldrick 46), Moussi, Harewood (Blackstock 81), Findley

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• Who saw that one coming? Everyone. As soon as Boateng deflected Jermaine Beckford's shot into his own net, it was clear the Foxes were in for a big win. The only downside for this emphatic Leicester victory, their best over Forest in a century, is that it came in a cup competition when it is a league performance that is badly needed. 
• So Leicester face Swindon in the fourth round. A tricky tie against Paulo di Canio's Swindon Town beckons next week but before that the important job of a trip to St Mary's to play league leaders Southampton is fast approaching.

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Winners

Jermaine Beckford

What a goal does for your confidence. Beckford would have been credited with Leicester's first if not for a big deflection off Boateng but it was not that goal that made this his game. The £2 million striker came out of the blocks bursting with energy, chasing every ball and winning many. He was the man who capitalised on Lee Camp's error to claim City's second and was lively to claim his second and third. This performance could be the making of a man who has been on the fringes since his big-money, big-hype arrival in the summer. He looked rejuvenated, invigorated and passionate. He wanted to wear royal blue tonight and rightly deserved his hat-trick.

David Nugent
Very much playing in the 'Best Supporting Actor' role tonight, David Nugent nonetheless put in an immense amount of effort and perseverance to put Beckford amongst the goals. He was unfortunate that his curling left-footed strike late in the first half did not creep inside the far post but his flicked-header was crucial to Beckford's second goal. This was a mature and committed performance from the Foxes' standout striker this season to date.

Sean St Ledger
For a man transfer-listed and set to never pull on the Foxes' royal blue shirt again, this was a stunning performance. Sean St Ledger was the pick of Leicester City's defenders on an evening where, admittedly, they were rarely tested at full stretch. On this performance, St Ledger will be challenging for a regular first team slot, ahead of Aleksandar Tunchev. Indeed, with Sol Bamba away at the Africa Cup of Nations for over a month, the position could well belong to the Irishman.

Matt Mills
This win will feel doubly sweet for the City skipper. Matt Mills has come under immense pressure due to some less-than-perfect performances in the heart of the Leicester defence but tonight he - alongside St Ledger - was solid. As a Foxes' fan Mills will be delighted to have seen his team thrash Forest and, as the club's on-field leader, pleased with the clean sheet.

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Losers
Kasper Schmeichel
It must have been lonely and cold in the Leicester goal tonight for the Foxes' number one.

Nottingham Forest

A team in crisis, this was surely the worst Forest performance in any East Midlands derby of recent years. Steve Cotterill's side looked uninterested, lacking in imagination and without impetus. This was the easiest defending Leicester City will have to do this season and certainly Forest's was the most inept, static defence they will face. It is a wonder this game did not end with Leicester up by a half dozen goals or more.