Leicester 2 Manchester City 2: Andy King forces replay after Joe Hart blunder

He may be England's first-choice goalkeeper, but Joe Hart will this week discover just how far Roberto Mancini's loyalty can be stretched. While the notion of charitable selection at the world's richest football club is a fanciful one, the likeable Shropshire lad will soon find out if saying sorry is enough to make up for a second-half clanger which took the shine off a stirring Manchester City fightback. Dropped in it: Hart fumbles the ball to let King score his side's equalising goal and force a replay This gripping tie demonstrated that the FA Cup is still alive and kicking in all its traditional glory. But Hart's gaffe undermined an afternoon of uncharacteristic grit and determination by the Barclays Premier League heavyweights in the face of a thorough examination by eager and enthusiastic hosts from the Championship. While it would be harsh for the 23-year-old to lose his place because of a rare error in a s eason of otherwise polished performances, he has Shay Given breathing down his neck. The Republic of Ireland goalkeeper would walk into almost every other top-flight side. Eyes not on the prize: the Manchester City goalkeeper gifted Leicester their second goal Silencing the home fans: Tevez scored on the stroke of half-time to give Mancini's side the lead at the interval Leicester were showing signs ofhaving run out of a little steam when the clanger came, having seen afirst-minute Sol Bamba opener wiped out by goals from James Milner andCarlos Tevez. When Paul Gallagher's inswingingcross bounced up in front of Hart, the keeper spilled it and, before hecould grab it again, Andy King nipped in to slot into an empty net. 'It was a mistake,' said Citymanager Mancini before offering encouragement by adding: 'He savesgoals more times than he doesn't. His save in the first half and inother games have been good. He was unlucky. Things like this canhappen. Has he said sorry? Yes.' Edin Dzeko, Manchester City's new £27million signing from Wolfsburg, was watching from the directors' box (right) and must have wondered exactly what all the fuss was about when he took his first look at FA Cup football. He did not have to wait long to find out. A packed house of over 31,000 was treated to a dream start - albeit not for the 4,000 visting fans, wearing red and black scarves in tribute to Neil Young, who, now battling cancer, scored the winning goal in the 1969 FA Cup final between these clubs. What a start! Bamba prods home from close-range to give Leicester an early lead A corner inside the opening 45 seconds was taken short by Gallagher. The Scot received the ball back from Lloyd Dyer and his cross was flicked on at the near post for debutant Bamba to stab home. It was the Ivory Coast defender's first touch following a £200,000 move from Hibernian eight days ago and by half time he could have had a hat-trick. However, with Tevez involved in almost every meaningful attack, the visitors warmed to their task. A swift exchange with Milner enabled the England midfielder to shrug off the attentions of Yuki Abe, throw a dummy that Bamba bought, and drill a low left-foot shot into the bottom corner to level in the 23rd minute. On target: Milner scored City's equalising goal Back came Leicester. Bamba twice rose to meet set pieces. Hart saved the first with his face and Shaun Wright-Phillips kicked the other clear for his only contribution of note before being replaced at the interval. Next it was the hosts' turn to switch off at a corner as Milner's cross was backheeled into the net by Tevez with a touch of class just before half time. MATCH FACTS LEICESTER (4-1-4-1): Weale 7; Naughton 7, Bamba 8, Hobbs 7, Berner 6 (Neilson 90min); Abe 7; Gallagher 7, Wellens 8, King 7, Dyer 7 (Waghorn 79); Vassell 7 (Howard 82). Subs not used: Teixeira, Oakley, Logan, Moussa.MANCHESTER CITY (4-4-1-1): Hart 5; Boateng 6, Toure 6, Lescott 7, Kolarov 7; Wright-Phillips 5 (De Jong 46, 7), Milner 7, Vieira 6, Johnson 7; Tevez 9; Jo 5 (Zabaleta 74, 6). Subs not used: Given, Boyata, Santa Cruz, Ibrahim, Tchuimeni-Nimely.Man of the match: Carlos Tevez.Referee: Mike Dean 8. Engelbert Humperdinck kept up the sell-out crowd's spirits at half-time and they were in more buoyant mood still when King scored his 10th goal of the season with 26 minutes to play. Both teams had chances to set up a fourth-round trip to Notts County. Referee Mike Dean correctly turned down appeals for a spot kick when Nigel de Jong fouled Leicester's Richie Wellens just outside the penalty area. Leicester keeper Chris Weale saved twice in the final few minutes to deny the visitors and a draw was a fair outcome. Mancini, who played four times for Leicester on loan in 2001, said: 'I think that is a good result for both teams. 'Leicester played very well, they did not deserve to lose this game. We conceded a goal after just one minute and then we slept for two or three minutes. But we improved during the game and scored two good goals. I was impressed with Leicester. 'For us, it was also important because we now understand if we want to win the FA Cup we have to play at 100 per cent.' That goes for Hart, too. Old pals: Roberto Mancini shakes hands with his former Lazio boss Sven Goran-Eriksson FA Cup fourth round draw: Southampton land plum tie against giants Manchester United FA CUP LIVE: Follow Sunday's third round action as it happensWhere have all the football supporters gone?. Fans stay at home for FA CupMANCHESTER CITY FC

Source: Daily_Mail