Mavididi and Daka Fire Leicester Past Cheltenham Into FA Cup Fourth Round

CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND — Stephy Mavididi capped a dominant first-half performance with a clinical 45th-minute finish as Leicester City cruised to a 2-0 victory over Cheltenham Town at The Completely-Suzuki Stadium, booking their place in the FA Cup fourth round with a display that showcased the gulf between Championship and League Two football.

The Foxes took control early through Patson Daka's spectacular 23rd-minute strike, the Zambian international unleashing a thunderous right-footed effort from outside the box that arrowed into the bottom right corner after being teed up by Mavididi's clever pass. The goal epitomized Leicester's clinical edge, converting their early pressure into a deserved lead that would prove insurmountable for the home side.

Leicester City dominated the ball with 71.1% possession, pinning Cheltenham Town back for long stretches and creating a constant stream of attacking opportunities. The visitors' superiority was evident in every department, with their slick passing combinations and movement causing problems throughout the opening period. Mavididi, who had been instrumental in the opener, doubled the advantage right on the stroke of half-time with a composed right-footed finish from the left side of the box, converting Oliver Skipp's precise assist to effectively kill the contest before the interval.

The tactical battle was decidedly one-sided, with Leicester's Championship quality shining through against their League Two opponents. Hamza Choudhury and Oliver Skipp controlled the midfield with authority, while the defensive partnership of Jannik Vestergaard and Ben Nelson dealt comfortably with Cheltenham's limited attacking threats. The Robins' best moments came through Jordan Thomas, whose pace and directness caused occasional problems, but Leicester goalkeeper Asmir Begovic was rarely troubled, making three routine saves to preserve his clean sheet.

Leicester City's pressure yielded 10 corners compared to Cheltenham's solitary set-piece opportunity, underlining their territorial dominance. The visitors created 16 shots to the home side's nine, with five efforts on target demonstrating their clinical approach in the final third. Despite Cheltenham's spirited efforts, particularly through Luke Young and Josh Martin's industry in midfield, they struggled to create clear-cut chances against Leicester's well-organized defensive structure.

The turning point came with Daka's early breakthrough, which allowed Leicester to play with confidence and control the tempo throughout. Manager Enzo Maresca's tactical approach proved perfect for the occasion, with his side's patient build-up play and movement off the ball consistently finding gaps in Cheltenham's compact defensive shape. The introduction of Jordan Ayew and other substitutes in the second half maintained Leicester's intensity while giving valuable minutes to squad players.

Cheltenham showed admirable fighting spirit, with Ben Stevenson and Liam Kinsella working tirelessly in midfield, but they were ultimately outclassed by opponents operating at a higher level. Joe Day in the Cheltenham goal made several important saves to prevent a heavier defeat, including a fine stop to deny Oliver Skipp's long-range effort in stoppage time. The home side's best chance fell to Jordan Thomas, whose left-footed effort from close range was well saved by Begovic midway through the second half.

The victory extends Leicester's impressive cup form and demonstrates their credentials as genuine contenders for FA Cup glory this season. Their blend of experience and youthful energy, exemplified by the partnership between Mavididi and Daka, suggests they possess the quality to trouble higher-level opposition in the later rounds. For Cheltenham, this represented a valuable learning experience against superior opposition, though they can take pride in their disciplined defensive display that prevented a more comprehensive defeat.

The final statistics told the story of Leicester's dominance, with their 71.1% possession figure reflecting their control of proceedings from start to finish. Both teams received one yellow card apiece in a largely good-natured encounter, with Luke Thomas and Jonathan Tomkinson cautioned for late challenges as the game entered its closing stages.

Looking ahead, Leicester City will discover their fourth-round opponents in Monday's draw, while Cheltenham Town can refocus on their League Two campaign and their push for promotion back to League One.