Leicester 1-0 Brighton: Kelechi Iheanacho is the hero with winner in the 94TH MINUTE

Kelechi Iheanacho sent Leicester into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a stoppage-time header to settle a dire encounter against Brighton.

With the match seemingly destined for extra-time, Cengiz Under and Youri Tielemans worked a short corner and Iheanacho – a 62nd-minute substitute for Jamie Vardy – rose unchallenged to head home.

Earlier, Leicester defender James Justin was carried off on a stretcher after falling awkwardly, while both Brighton’s Andi Zeqiri and Leicester’s Under had goals ruled out for offside.

Kelechi Iheanacho came off the bench to make the difference for Leicester in the FA Cup

The striker (left) received all the plaudits from team-mates for his decisive goal contribution

He gained separation from Dan Burn and was able to plant a header into the bottom corner

It proved bitterly disappointing for Christian Walton, who got a rare start in Brighton’s goal

In an early signal as to where their priorities lie, both sides made seven changes, with Jamie Vardy starting his first game since January 19 following hernia surgery. 

Vontae Daley-Campbell made his debut for the home side as boss Brendan Rodgers held back a number of key men with one eye on Saturday’s 12.30pm kick-off against Liverpool in the league. 

Mike Dean took charge of his first game since his controversial decision to send off West Ham’s Tomas Soucek – later overturned – at Fulham last Saturday. The referee has since reported death threats to police and will not be involved in Premier League action this weekend. 

Graham Potter (middle) had a side in form and he almost forced Leicester into extra-time

On a freezing night, Leicester dominated the ball in the early stages but were held at arm’s length by a Brighton side who had lost only one of their previous six matches in all competitions.

Yet both sides struggled to create chances. Brighton looked dangerous from set pieces, and made Leicester wobble when Lewis Dunk headed back Pascal Gross’ corner at the far post. Daley-Campbell and Caglar Soyuncu scrambled the ball away.

Foxes full-back Luke Thomas had to be similarly alert to head clear under pressure from Andi Zeqiri after Percy Tau had escaped down the left and crossed. Adam Lallana was twice off target from long range for Albion, while at the other end Youri Tielemans’ radar was also faulty from 25 yards.

Zeqiri’s acrobatic effort that went narrowly over the bar was the highlight of a drab first half and the second half was little better, with neither side able to find any cutting edge in attack.

Rodgers opted to remove Vardy after an hour as part of a triple change, with Kelechi Iheanacho, James Maddison and Hamza Choudhury joining the action and Ayoze Perez and Wilfred Ndidi – also making a comeback from injury – also withdrawn.

Both sides had the ball in the net within the space of three minutes, though neither effort was allowed to stand. Zeqiri had clearly moved too early before he collected Tau’s pass and lifted the ball over Danny Ward, while at the other end Cengiz Under smashed home from close range only to see the linesman’s flag raised because Iheanacho was a fraction offside when Maddison released him.

Then Justin, arguably Leicester’s best player this season, was carried off on a stretcher after falling awkwardly after trying to control Brighton keeper Christian Walton’s kick downfield. No opponent was near Justin when he fell.

Seconds after Justin was injured, Zeqiri’s angled effort flew just wide and then Tau should have done better than steer Steven Alzate’s perfect cross wide from close range.

Under went close again with time ticking away and then after Leicester won another corner, Iheanacho had the final word. 

Mike Dean took charge of his first game since his controversial decision to send off West Ham’s Tomas Soucek against Fulham, one which was later overturned by the FA review panel