Leicester City beat Southampton on penalties following a goalless draw in normal time to set up a home quarter-final tie against holders Manchester City.
The Foxes had to ride their luck as their opponents twice hit the crossbar in the second half and had a Steven Davis goal ruled out for offside.
In the end Manolo Gabbiadini's missed pen would prove costly, with Nampalys Mendy successfully tucking the following attempt away to win the match 6-5 for his side.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the EFL Cup fourth-round tie between Leicester City and Southampton at the King Power Stadium. This fixture was originally scheduled to take place last month, but was postponed after the tragic helicopter crash outside this ground that claimed the life of Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others.
The whole city of Leicester, never mind the football club, is still coming to terms with Srivaddhanaprabha's passing. A month on from that tragic event, football still seems to be secondary in terms of importance, though the show does go on tonight. The Foxes have played three matches since what was the darkest day in their history, winning one and drawing two of those.
LEICESTER CITY TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Ward; Simpson, Evans, Soyuncu, Fuchs; Diabate, Silva, Ndidi, Gray; Iheanacho, Vardy
SUBS: Jakupovic, Morgan, Ricardo, Albrighton, Mendy, Leshabela, Okazaki
Starting with a look at the home team, boss Claude Puel has made nine changes on the back of the 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion a few days ago. Jonny Evans retains his place in the heart of defence, although rather than starting alongside Wes Morgan, he today links up with Caglar Soyuncu, who has made just one Premier League start since joining the club in the summer. With Harry Maguire on the sidelines, this could be his big chance to impress.
The other player to retain his place in the starting XI from that Brighton clash is Demarai Gray, who is used in a four-man midfield along with Adrien Silva, Wilfried Ndidi and Fousseni Diabate - another of those who needs to make an impression on this rare start. Jamie Vardy has been carrying a knock, but he is deemed fit enough to return to the fold up top, where he will partner Kelechi Iheanacho.
Another of those to be brought in tonight is goalkeeper Danny Ward, who has been used in just this competition this term. The Wales international conceded to a penalty for his national side in Albania this time last week, but he has yet to ship a goal in his two Leicester outings since arriving in the summer. Danny Simpson, too, has barely featured this term, with this just his second run out.
SOUTHAMPTON TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Gunn; Vestergaard, Stephens, Yoshida; Valery, Hojbjerg, Lemina, Armstrong, Targett; Redmond, Obafemi
SUBS: McCarthy, Cedric, Hoedt, Davis, Ward-Prowse, Austin, Gabbiadini
Switching focus to the visitors, under-fire boss Mark Hughes makes five changes to the side that lost 3-2 at Fulham on Saturday afternoon. Angus Gunn, Jack Stephens, Jannik Vestergaard, Michael Obafemi and Yan Valery all come into the fold, with the latter two making their full debuts for the club. Obafemi has had least featured from the bench this term, but it is a step into the unknown for Valery at right wing-back.
Alex McCarthy, Cedric Soares, Wesley Hoedt, Manolo Gabbiadini and Charlie Austin are the players to make way from the one-goal defeat at Craven Cottage, with all of those included in the matchday squad. The absence of McCarthy gives Angus Gunn, a £13.5m summer signing from Manchester City, a chance to impress on what is just his third outing for the club - the other two appearances also coming in this competition.
Ryan Bertrand served a one-match ban at the weekend but is not involved tonight, while Danny Ings and Shane Long also miss out entirely due to a thigh and ankle injury respectively. Austin is kept in reserve in case he is needed in this fourth-round tie, though the Englishman's most recent goal came in round two, some seven matches ago. Obafemi therefore has a chance to stake a claim for more regular starts.
Demarai Gray, pictured celebrating here in the league meeting between the two sides earlier this season, is one of two Leicester City players to retain his place in the side, along with centre-back Jonny Evans. Southampton make fewer changes - just the five from their loss at Fulham - and head into this contest as outsiders to progress.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! This is only the second ever EFL Cup meeting between these two sides, with Leicester City prevailing 3-2 in the second-round encounter in 1970-71. Southampton are winless in their last five visits to the King Power Stadium, all in the Premier League, since winning 2-1 here in December 2007, and have failed to score on any of their last four trips.
Leicester head into this match sitting 10th in the Premier League table, equidistant from the top four and the relegation zone. Their season could still very much go one of two ways, then, though some context is needed on the back of the tragic events that unfolded outside this ground a month ago. Everyone involved with the club, from the players and coaching staff to supporters and backroom members, will need time to come to terms with what took place.
Since the death of much-loved owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, Leicester have played three matches and lost none. The win at Cardiff City a week after that incident remains their only victory in six Premier League outings since the end of September, however, most recently playing out a goalless home draw with Burnley and a 1-1 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion a few days ago.
A fourth red card of the season, this time awarded to James Maddison, looked to have proved costly for Leicester as they already trailed Brighton by a Glenn Murray goal to nil. A penalty in the final quarter of the match was successfully converted by a frustrated Vardy, however, to ensure that Leicester ended the weekend occupying a place just inside the top half of the division. Now, attention turns to one of the domestic cup competitions.
Since the start of the 2017-18, Leicester have both scored and conceded in a Premier League match on 33 occasions, which is a divisional high. The Foxes have yet to concede a goal in their EFL Cup campaign, though, having brushed aside Fleetwood Town 4-0 in round two and then edged out Wolverhampton Wanderers on penalties following a goalless draw in round three. City also made it to the last eight last season, where they were cruelly beaten by eventual winners Manchester City on pens.
Leicester have a chance to exact revenge, as victory tonight will set up a quarter-final clash with the holders on home soil just before Christmas. Claude Puel, incidentally, last managed an EFL Cup fourth-round tie while in charge of this evening's opponents Southampton, seeing his side claim a 1-0 win over Sunderland en route to reaching the final. Opposite number Mark Hughes has progressed from five of his previous six fourth-round ties.
Puel praised the "energy and desire" of his players on the back of the 1-1 draw at Brighton, and those qualities will need to be on display in the coming weeks as Leicester face Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Manchester City before the end of the year. It is difficult to ascertain what exactly a successful season would mean for the Foxes, who rewrote the whole chapter on success when magically lifting the Premier League title in 2016.
DID YOU KNOW? Leicester City are bidding to reach the EFL Cup quarter-final in successive seasons for the first time since 1999-00, when going all the way with a 2-1 win over Tranmere Rovers in the final at Wembley - Matt Elliot the hero that day with a brace. Southampton, meanwhile, have reached the last eight in three of the last four seasons and made it to the final in 2016-17, losing to Manchester United in a classic final.
Everyone connected to Leicester City are still coming to terms with the death of much loved owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha in a helicopter crash a month ago, which led to this EFL Cup fourth-round tie being rearranged. We now know that the reward for the winner of this contest will go on to face Manchester City at home in the quarter-finals.
Southampton's final appearance two seasons ago would prove to be a rare high point for the club during a difficult period. Since controversially getting rid of Puel at the end of that campaign, the Saints have turned to Mauricio Pellegrino and more recently Hughes, neither of whom could truly steady the ship. Hughes did at least keep the south coast outfit in the top flight last term, earning a long-term contract in the process.
Questions remain over whether Hughes is truly the right man to take Southampton forward, however, as he has won just three of his 21 Premier League games in charge. That 14.3% win rate is the lowest of any manager in the Saints' proud history after at least 20 matches - no wonder, then, that reports emerged overnight suggesting that Hughes has this game and the meeting with Manchester United at the weekend to save his job.
Having survived the drop into the Championship last season by just three points, Southampton already find themselves in the bottom three 13 games into the current campaign. The Saints have won a league-low one match all season, that coming against Crystal Palace on September 1, and they have lost seven times. The recent goalless draws with Bournemouth and Newcastle United only highlighted their problems, though Hughes somehow clung onto his job.
Southampton have at least found an answer to their goalscoring problems, having netted against Man City, Watford and Fulham in successive games, but they have conceded 10 goals in that time to find themselves in the bottom three. Things do not really get any easier for Hughes, either, as he prepares his side for games against the likes of Tottenham, Arsenal, Man City and Chelsea over the Christmas and New Year period.
Hughes has been keen to take any positives away from his side's matches this term, though he admitted himself after the 4-2 loss at Fulham that his players made it far too easy for the opposition to score. The Welshman could well be given the shove by the end of the week, though victory at the King Power Stadium tonight, and a place in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup, would offer a welcome reprieve.
Southampton's run to the last 16 has seen them overcome Brighton & Hove Albion in round two, doing so through a late Charlie Austin goal, before overcoming Everton on penalties following a 1-1 draw in normal time. Austin was again on the scoresheet in that one, only for Theo Walcott to equalise in the final five minutes. Credit to the Saints, though, as they held their nerve in the shootout.
MANAGERS' COMMENTS!
Claude Puel: "It's important to play all these games with the right desire and good aggressiveness and mentality. We have the squad to maintain a good level. It will be a good opportunity for the squad to perform together and to win something. We know the importance of winning something. The cup will be important for us."
Mark Hughes: "Clearly, Leicester are still dealing with the tragic loss of their owner. I'd imagine there's still a lot of emotion around every game they play. We will have to deal with that in our own way, along with being respectful to them as well."
Puel hopes that his Leicester players show the right 'aggressiveness' on the field tonight, though he probably could have used a better word as his side have already had four men sent off in the Premier League this term - more than any other team. The Frenchman, who guided Southampton to the final a couple of seasons back, sees this as a big chance to win some silverware; all the more important when you look destined to finish mid-table in the league.
Hughes got the right tone with his pre-match comments, meanwhile, acknowledging that this will be a difficult game for both sides to play given the circumstances of the re-arranged fixture, while at the same time pointing out the importance of picking up victory. Southampton, quite simply, are relying on the EFL Cup to give supporters some hope to cling onto right now, as they really are in a bad state in the Premier League.
PREDICTION! Leicester have struggled for victories over the past couple of months, though they have at least remained difficult to beat - as shown with their results against Burnley and Brighton. Puel could do with a decent cup run, but making nine changes to his side does not exactly help. Still, the Foxes' second-string side looks better than Southampton's, so we will back a 3-1 home win.
KICKOFF: We are up and running at the King Power Stadium in this rearranged EFL Cup fourth-round tie. A reminder that the winner of this all-Premier League match will go on and face holders Manchester City for a place in the last four.
Demarai Gray, one of two starters from the Brighton match, earns Leicester a corner early on. Christian Fuchs got a shot away but is was quickly closed down, and from the next corner Adrien Silva could not adjust his body quickly enough.
Stuart Armstrong, who netted his first brace in two years at the weekend, gets away his first shot of the match. However, Leicester centre-back Caglar Soyuncu was well positioned to block it on the edge of the area.
Angus Gunn, who we have still yet to see a great deal of in a Southampton shirt, races off his line to gather a long ball that was intended for Kelechi Iheanacho. The hosts have started this match well.
CHANCE! Michael Obafemi, one of those key to impress on this first start for the club, needed to be a little quicker when turning and getting a shot away. The youngster was crowded out and the opportunity went begging for the visitors.
YELLOW CARD! A little over 10 minutes on the clock and we have just seen the game's first yellow card. Danny Simpson, restricted to just 20 minutes in the Premier League this term, fouls Mario Lemina and the Saints midfielder stays down for some treatment.
Mario Lemina is OK to continue following that challenge from Danny Simpson a couple of minutes ago. The Gabon international is instantly involved when returning to the field, attempting to slip in Nathan Redmond but being denied by Jonny Evans.
Some good defending in the opening 15 minutes of the contest, as Maya Yoshida gets in the way of Demarai Gray's effort. No shots on target at either end of the field so far in an evenly-matched contest.
Danny Simpson had to remain alert to cut out a cross from debutant Yan Valery, which was heading towards a Southampton player in the middle. The Saints, surprisingly, have just about edged possession so far in the East Midlands.
SAVE! Finally something for one of the goalkeepers to do, as Angus Gunn gets down to keep out a low drive from Adrien Silva - that was as routine as you like. Leicester on top here but they have not done enough to warrant a lead.
We are now nearly midway through the first half and neither side has really managed to create any sort of openings. Southampton, remember, have failed to score on any of their last four visits to this ground.
Nathan Redmond wins his side a free kick around 35 yards from goal when tripped by an opponent. The English winger decides to take it on himself, only to send the ball well over Danny Ward's crossbar - poor attempt!
Southampton's turn to win a corner, which Danny Ward races off his line to punch clear. The Saints are still edging things in terms of possession, but they have not exactly looked all that threatening when on the ball.
A promising moments for the hosts, but Kelechi Iheanacho played his squared pass for Demarai Gray just out of his teammate's reach. Leicester fans are urging their players on in search of that opening goal of the night.
The fourth corner of the match goes Leicester's way, but it comes to nothing as the ball goes straight through the box. Not enough attacking impetus at either end of the field so far in what has been a quiet opening half an hour here.
CLOSE! Christian Fuchs hurls the ball into the middle, where Jannik Vestergaard is waiting to meet it. Up the other end, a delivery into the Leicester box is again met by the head of Vestergaard, who could not keep his header down.
Leicester just unable to enjoy any sustained pressure at the moment, with Southampton doing well to restrict them. The Foxes have yet to concede in the EFL Cup this season, keeping out Fleetwood Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Barely seen Jamie Vardy all match up top for Leicester, and he is unable to control this pass into his path. Michael Obafemi and Jannik Vestergaard have come closest for the visitors tonight; Adrien Silva for the home side.
It has gone awfully scrappy out there once again, with neither team able to really keep a foot on the ball. Wilfried Ndidi has just had an attempt from range, sending the ball a good couple of yards wide of Angus Gunn's target.
Southampton will argue that they have done more to warrant a first-half lead, with Michael Obafemi coming close and Jannik Vestergaard also heading a half-chance over the crossbar. Leicester are being penned in at the moment.
Less than five minutes of the first half to play and it is looking as though it will end goalless. Plenty to play for in the second half, of course, though hopefully the quality in the final third at both ends improves.
Leicester are having to do a fair bit of defending at the end of this first half, with a right-sided cross going behind for a corner. The set piece was sent into a good area around six yards from goal, where Caglar Soyuncu was waiting to head clear.
Another chance for Southampton to get the ball in the box as Matt Targett is brought down on the left-hand flank by Kelechi Iheanacho. Maya Yoshida headed it back into the middle, but nobody in a red and white top could get on the end of it.
HALF TIME: LEICESTER CITY 0-0 SOUTHAMPTON
Leicester's best chance of the half came right at the very end, as Jamie Vardy was played in behind and cut the ball back into a dangerous zone. Jannik Vestergaard got a foot to it and so nearly steered it into his own net - it drifted inches wide. All square at the break, then - we are no closer to learning who Manchester City will face in round five.
Home boss Claude Puel made nine changes to his starting lineup, retaining just Jonny Evans and Demarai Gray from the draw with Brighton & Hove Albion, while opposite number Mark Hughes brought in six new faces on the back of his side's loss at Fulham. The large amount of changes had a clear effect on the game, as neither side created any real clear-cut opening in the first half.
One of those to profit from the rotation was young attacker Michael Obafemi, who was denied a goal on his full debut by Danny Ward when powering through. Angus Gunn also got down to deny Adrien Silva in a rare opening for Leicester, who had not conceded at home to Southampton in four matches ahead of this rearranged tie.
Jannik Vestergaard was guilty of squandering a half-chance when heading over from a corner, while up the other end the same player diverted a Jamie Vardy cutback inches wide of his own goal at the very end of the first half. Plenty for both managers to ponder at the break, then, with the second half just a few minutes away.
LEICESTER CITY SUBS: Jakupovic, Morgan, Ricardo, Albrighton, Mendy, Leshabela, Okazaki
SOUTHAMPTON SUBS: McCarthy, Cedric, Hoedt, Davis, Ward-Prowse, Austin, Gabbiadini
KICKOFF: We are back up and running at the King Power Stadium. We have 45 minutes, plus possibly penalties, to determine who will face Manchester City in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup. Plenty on the line...
Possibly an early injury blow in this second half for Southampton, as Matt Targett has been down receiving some treatment for the past minute or so following a coming together.
Play has resumed at the King Power Stadium following that short stoppage, and Matt Target is OK to continue for now. Momentum is something neither side has enjoyed so far tonight, and that does not really look like changing early in this second period.
Hughes will probably be the happier of the two managers at this point, with his side having created the best opportunity of the match so far. Leicester have not really got going all evening, in truth, and there are now less than 40 minutes left to go.
This match desperately needs an injection of pace from somewhere - neither team look as though they want to reach the last eight at the moment. Which manager will be first to turn to their bench?
Leicester City's Danny Simpson fouls Southampton's Mario Lemina during the first half of a quiet EFL Cup tie. No openings at either end in the first 10 minutes of the second period.
A dangerous moment as a cross into the Southampton box drops in a dangerous position, but it is a visiting player who gets to the loose ball first to clear away. Looks as though Jack Stephens was the player who got to it.
Another stoppage in play now as Matt Targett again goes down in the area. The physios are on the field and the left-back may have to be replaced for the final half an hour, which is drawing ever nearer.
SUBS! Matt Targett has been in the wars tonight, so no surprise to see him withdrawn on the hour mark to be replaced by Cedric Soares. Leicester also make a change, bringing on Shinji Okazaki for Iheanacho and Mendy for Silva.
Will those changes make any difference for Leicester? It has been a pretty poor performance from the hosts on the whole, despite the lure of a quarter-final place being on the line. Southampton, in truth, have not performed that much better.
OFF THE BAR! The closest we have come to a goal so far by quite some distance! Nathan Redmond does well to work his way past a couple of players before firing a shot against the crossbar. Michael Obafemi looked for all the world as though he would tuck the rebound away, only to miss the open goal with his half-volley. What a let-off for the hosts!
Leicester really are fortunate to still be on level terms here. Southampton have now created the game's two best chances - the only chances, pretty much - without tucking them away. A reminder that we will go straight to pens if this stays all square.
SAVE! Southampton are starting to knock on the door now, as Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg gets in a shot from the edge of the box that Danny Ward is equal to. Puel has one more change available to make - he would be wise to use it shortly.
Fousseni Diabate looked as though he was going to power a shot on target for Angus Gunn to deal with, but Jack Stephens produced a good block. Christian Fuchs then tried his luck with a long-range volley that failed to trouble Gunn.
SAVE! Nampalys Mendy with another shot, this time from closer range, which deflects into the arms of Angus Gunn. City are finally starting to grow into this game now as we enter the final quarter of proceedings in the East Midlands.
SOUTHAMPTON SUB! Stuart Armstrong was unable to follow up his two goals from the weekend with anything tonight, as he makes way with around 15 minutes to play. Steven Davis is the man brought on in his place - the Saints' second change of the evening.
Unfortunately, we do not really appear to be any closer to a goal. There was that one major chance in this second half, which Michael Obafemi failed to take, but that aside the second period has been as quiet as the first.
SAVE! LEICESTER CITY SUB! Another simple one for Angus Gunn to deal with as Shinji Okazaki's shot from outside the box is struck right down the middle. Twelve minutes to go now in the East Midlands and Leicester have made their final change - Marc Albrighton is on for Diabate.
SHOT! A brilliant run from Demarai Gray through the heart of Leicester's midfield and defence, but no end product to match it. The winger's shot was wide of the target, though that has at least got the supporters out of their seats.
This match, if nothing else, does at least remain delicately poised for these closing stages. A goal now for either side surely wins it, though it is looking increasingly likely that we will go all the way to penalties.
GOAL! LEICESTER CITY 0-1 SOUTHAMPTON (STEVEN DAVIS)
GOAL RULED OUT BY VAR!
VAR comes to Leicester's rescue at the end of the match, as substitute Steven Davis's goal is ruled out by referee Roger East. Davis, only on the field for 10 minutes, helped the ball over the line, but it was adjudged that Nathan Redmond used his hand in the build-up.
PENALTY APPEAL! We go to VAR once again, this time to help with a penalty call. Jonny Evans went down in the box, seemingly under contact from an opposition player, but Roger East opts to give the decision the Saints' way.
What a thrilling finale to this cup tie, which somehow remains all square despite all that VAR drama. More on that Davis goal that wasn't - Redmond done brilliantly in the build-up, though he did appear to handle it before teeing up his teammate.
SOUTHAMPTON SUB! Marc Albrighton finds himself in a promising position, but he flashes the ball right across the face of goal. Southampton make their third change of the contest, as Gabbiadini comes on for Obafemi late on.
We are three minutes into the four added on at the end of this goalless fourth-round tie. Penalties now seem a certainty, unless someone can create something from nothing in the remaining 60 seconds...
OFF THE BAR! Almost an incredible late twist to this fourth-round tie. Jamie Vardy slipped at just the wrong time at one end, and up the other Manolo Gabbiadini curled a free kick against the crossbar with Danny Ward beaten.
END OF 90 MINUTES: LEICESTER CITY 0-0 SOUTHAMPTON
Roger East brings the goalless contest to an end, meaning we will have a penalty shootout to determine the winner. Mark Hughes will be wondering how on earth his side did not get the job done in the 90 minutes - they twice hit the bar and missed what was virtually an open goal.
GOAL! LEICESTER CITY 0-1 SOUTHAMPTON Steven Davis sends the ball into the top corner of the net.
GOAL! LEICESTER CITY 1-1 SOUTHAMPTON Christian Fuchs blasts the ball right down the middle, finding the roof of the net.
GOAL! LEICESTER CITY 1-2 SOUTHAMPTON Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg tucks the ball the opposite way to Danny Ward.
GOAL! LEICESTER CITY 2-2 SOUTHAMPTON Marc Albrighton is the latest Leicester player to go right down the middle.
GOAL! LEICESTER CITY 2-3 SOUTHAMPTON As cool as you like from Nathan Redmond, sending Danny Ward the wrong way.
GOAL! LEICESTER CITY 3-3 SOUTHAMPTON Caglar Soyuncu makes no mistake from the spot, tucking it into the bottom left-hand corner.
GOAL! LEICESTER CITY 3-4 SOUTHAMPTON Best pen so far, as Jannik Vestergaard picks out the bottom right.
GOAL! LEICESTER CITY 4-4 SOUTHAMPTON Demarai Gray hold his nerve and restores parity.
GOAL! LEICESTER CITY 4-5 SOUTHAMPTON Cedric Soares just about squeezes the ball under Danny Ward.
GOAL! LEICESTER CITY 5-5 SOUTHAMPTON Jamie Vardy, Leicester's regular penalty taker, makes no mistake.
SAVE! LEICESTER CITY 5-5 SOUTHAMPTON Manolo Gabbiadini, brought on with pens in mind, is denied by Danny Ward.
GOAL! LEICESTER CITY 6-5 SOUTHAMPTON Up steps Nampalys Mendy, and he sends Angus Gunn the wrong way to win the tie for Leicester!
LEICESTER CITY ARE THROUGH TO THE QUARTER-FINALS OF THE EFL CUP!
Leicester City hold their nerve to progress through on penalties for the second round running. The Foxes were second best on the night, with their opponents twice hitting the crossbar in the second half and having a goal ruled out for handball, but in the end they did what was required to scrape through for a quarter-final tie against Manchester City.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events from the East Midlands. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, and be sure to join us again tomorrow night as we bring you updates from a selection of Champions League matches around the continent. See you then!
