Ranieri Relieved With Replay Reprieve

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Ranieri Relieved With Replay Reprieve

An added fixture to a busy February schedule was the least of Claudio Ranieri’s concerns on Friday night, after Leicester City salvaged an Emirates FA Cup replay at Derby County.

2017-01-28T11:11:06.000Z

by Leicester City

Published

28 Jan, 2017

Ranieri Relieved With Replay Reprieve

An added fixture to a busy February schedule was the least of Claudio Ranieri’s concerns on Friday night, after Leicester City salvaged an Emirates FA Cup replay at Derby County.

Leicester City

2017-01-28T11:11:06.000Z

Ranieri Relieved With Replay Reprieve

An added fixture to a busy February schedule was the least of Claudio Ranieri’s concerns on Friday night, after Leicester City salvaged an Emirates FA Cup replay at Derby County.

Leicester City

2017-01-28T11:11:06.000Z

Ranieri Relieved With Replay Reprieve

An added fixture to a busy February schedule was the least of Claudio Ranieri’s concerns on Friday night, after Leicester City salvaged an Emirates FA Cup replay at Derby County.

Leicester City

2017-01-28T11:11:06.000Z

Ranieri Relieved With Replay Reprieve

An added fixture to a busy February schedule was the least of Claudio Ranieri’s concerns on Friday night, after Leicester City salvaged an Emirates FA Cup replay at Derby County.

Leicester City

2017-01-28T11:11:06.000Z

- Leicester City draw 2-2 with Derby County in the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round

- Local rivals to replay at King Power Stadium on Wednesday 8 February

- City manager Claudio Ranieri says added fixture preferable to elimination

- Foxes potentially facing up to seven matches before the end of February

An added fixture to a busy February schedule was the least of Claudio Ranieri’s concerns on Friday night, after Leicester City salvaged an Emirates FA Cup replay at Derby County.

Indeed, the Foxes boss felt fourth round elimination at the hands of Championship opposition would have been a more damaging blow to his side’s confidence heading into February.

The repeat with the Rams at King Power Stadium on Wednesday 8 February means that, should City advance to round five, they will have to tackle seven games before the end of next month, including the first leg of our UEFA Champions League Last 16 showdown with Sevilla.

But having lost the last two games in the Premier League, Ranieri was content to go again in 12 days thanks to Wes Morgan’s .

“It was important,” Ranieri said post-match. “We fought a lot to go back and equalise the match and it was important for our confidence.

“Now we have a replay, but that’s ok. Do more fixtures bring more stress? No. I think it would have been more stressful to lose tonight.

“We’ll replay, we have a lot of players and then there is an opportunity for all the people to show their qualities.

“I’m satisfied because we knew it would be a tough match.”

City looked to be heading in the right direction early in the game, when a positive start against our local rivals yielded a lead through a Darren Bent own goal.

But Bent struck at the right end for Derby soon after, before Craig Bryson’s well-taken goal turned the tie on its head.

Ranieri’s men pressed hard after the interval and, having been thwarted repeatedly by Rams goalkeeper Scott Carson, deservedly drew level when captain Morgan headed in from substitute Demarai Gray’s corner.

“We started very well,” Ranieri said. “We scored a goal and suddenly from their first shot, Derby scored. And from their second, they scored again. We got nervous, the players were looking for what happened.

“The second half we started better, we created chances, but the ball didn’t want to go in the goal. Finally, the skipper equalised and I think we deserved to draw the match.

“I’m very happy with our attitude, with our character and also with our fans, they pushed a lot behind us and that was important.

“I love it when we show this character. When we show it, anything can happen.”

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