Leicester 1-0 Sheffield United: Riyad Mahrez sets up Jamie Vardy for winning goal on return to starting XI as Claude Puel's men sneak through to sixth round

• e-mail

Jamie Vardy claimed the sweetest of FA Cup winners as the Sheffield Wednesday fan dumped out Sheffield United and headed Leicester into the last eight. 

Riyad Mahrez, who was welcome 'home' by Leicester fans after his recent stand-off with the Foxes, laid on the winner for Vardy on 66 minutes. 

And the boyhood Owls fan made no mistake with his head to end the hopes of Chris Wilder's Championship side. For Mahrez, there was widespread forgiveness after his 10-day absence in the wake of Manchester City's failed January transfer bids.

Jamie Vardy scored a smart looping header from Riyad Mahrez's cross to give Leicester the lead just after the hour mark

The Leicester forward sprinted towards the home support and leaped in the air after handing his side the initiative in the tie

Mahrez made his first start for Leicester since failing to secure a move to Manchester City on deadline day last month

Vardy had the ball in the net again from close range but the goal did not stand as the linesman flagged up for an offside call

MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS AND MATCH ZONE

Leicester (4-2-3-1): Schmeichel 6; Simpson 6, Morgan 6, Maguire 7, Chilwell 6; Ndidi 7, Iborra 6; Mahrez 6 (James 90), Iheanacho 6, Gray 7; Vardy 6 (Albrighton 84);

Subs not used: Hamer, Adrien Silva, Dragovic, Fuchs, Diabate

Goalscorers: Vardy (66)

Booked: NONE 

Manager: Claude Puel 7 

Sheffield United (3-5-2):  Blackman 7; Basham 6, Wright 6 (Evans 76, 6), O'Connell 6; Baldock 6, Lafferty 6, Carruthers 6 (Duffy 76, 6), Lundstram 6, Stevens 7; Wilson 6 (Brooks HT, 6), Donaldson 6; 

Subs not used: Sharp, Stearman, Heneghan, Eastwood

Goalscorers: NONE

Booked: NONE 

Manager: Chris Wilder 6 

Referee: Lee Mason

Attendance: 28,336

Jamie Vardy headed in Riyad Mahrez's deep cross to open the scoring at the King Power Stadium in the second half. CLICK HERE to see more from Sportsmail's brilliant MATCH ZONE feature.

Mahrez was making his first start since failing to secure a move to Manchester City last month. Here is his heat map from the match.

Advertisement

He was booed by a minority of Foxes fans but cheered by most and responded with some classy moments and the cross for Vardy's winner. 

Leicester manager Claude Puel said: 'The most important thing was to win the game but also to see again Jamie and Riyad playing together in the same game and on the same pitch. 

'It was a good feeling and it was important and we appreciate the good support from the fans for Riyad. 'It was important they remained with him after this story and it's a good feeling for the future. 

'He was a little frustrated at the end because he wanted to score for the fans. This is a crucial competition for us, and also the Premier League. There are 11 Premier League games left, and we have the FA Cup, and we need to play all these games with conviction and desire.' 

Leicester defender Harry Maguire rises the highest to beat Chris Basham in the air and clear the danger from a corner

Vicente Iborra quickly changes direction to deceive his opposite number George Baldock and retain possession for Leicester 

Jamal Blackman makes a terrific diving save to his left to deny Wilfred Ndidi's right footed effort from outside the box

Sheffield United forward James Wilson breaks into the box and flashes a cross past Danny Simpson's outstretched foot

The home side dominated early and Jamie Vardy's shot took a big deflection and ran for a corner, which the Blades cleared with the minimum of fuss. 

Demarai Gray then tricked his way into a shooting position on the Leicester left but his shot was woefully misdirected and went for a goal-kick. 

Some superb footwork from Gray then forced another corner which United defended well but some more classy work from the Leicester winger then carved out another shooting change for Vardy. 

The striker let fly with a shot from a tight angle that flew inches wide of the far post. Leicester continued to press and on 22 minutes Wilfred Ndidi tried his luck with a long-range drive that visiting goalkeeper Jamal Blackman was forced to push away as he dived to his left. 

Enda Stevens works some space on the left after skipping past Riyad Mahrez and gets his head up in search of a team-mate

Clayton Donaldson gets in front of his marker and jumps in the air to control the ball under pressure from Ben Chilwell

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder barks order at his players from the technical area on the touchline during the first half

Stevens looks to switch play from the left flank as Leicester defender Simpson puts him under pressure and tries to block

Sheffield United forward Wilson takes a heavy touch past Leicester defender Wes Morgan and tries to recover the ball

Vardy finds himself clear through on goal but Blackman spreads himself and saves his clever chipped attempt

United had been under the cosh yet they could have snatched the lead 13 minutes from half-time. A right-wing cross bounced dangerously around the Leicester box and dropped for Enda Stevens, whose shot was blocked superbly by former Blades man Harry Maguire. 

But the hosts were soon back on the front foot with the previously quiet Mahrez producing a superb pass to send Vardy racing clear. It took a smart, low stop from Blackman to keep the England striker at bay. 

Leicester eased their way into the second half and Mahrez finally made a telling contribution on 67 minutes as he laid on the opening goal for Vardy. 

His cross from the right travelled beyond the far post and Vardy peeled away to guide a header over Blackman and into the net. 

Blackman then made a smart diving save to prevent Gray doubling the lead with a curling shot. But moments later it could have been 1-1 as Schmeichel made a superb, low save to keep out a shot from George Baldock. 

Blades manager Chris Wilder said: 'We're disappointed we didn't score because we had two or three chances. We switched off for the goal and we're disappointed about that but the Mahrez-Vardy combination isn't a bad one.'

Wilson winces in pain and clutches his leg after sustaining an injury as a result of Maguire's challenge early in the second half

Vardy goes up to challenge for an aerial ball but falls awkwardly on to the back of Sheffield United midfielder Baldock

Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel celebrates Vardy's opening goal six minutes after the hour mark