Leicester City moved into the last 16 of the Carling Cup with a 1-0 victory over Cardiff City at Ninian Park on Wednesday evening.
Nils-Eric Johansson's first goal for the Foxes proved to be the difference between the two sides and handed the visitors a hard-fought but well deserved win.
The triumph avenged the narrow defeat inflicted on them by the Bluebirds in the Championship last month and in the process handed them the chance of drawing one of the Premiership's big guns in the latter stages of this season's competition.
A much-changed City side lined up in a 4-5-1 formation with Dion Dublin being handed the lone striker's role while Elvis Hammond returned to the side in midfield.
Cardiff created the first real chance of the match on six minutes when Alan Lee met Chris Barker's free-kick but his header looped just over the bar.
But the visitors hit back and Martyn Margetson was forced to tip Hammond's goalbound shot around the post for a corner in the 10th minute.
However, City did take the lead a minute later thanks to Johansson.
Gareth Williams' inswinging corner from the left was diverted into the far corner of the net by the Swedish international to hand his side the upper hand.
Glenn Loovens was forced to clear under pressure from Dublin on 18 minutes while Johansson tidied up at the other end after Paddy McCarthy's back pass to Paul Henderson fell short.
Joey Gudjonsson fired his shot over the bar from 20-yards in the 22nd minute before the former Icelandic international unintentionally blocked Williams' long range effort on 34 minutes.
City almost doubled their lead two minutes before the interval when Dublin's header found Hammond just inside the area but the ball ran away from him at the crucial moment and Margetson gathered.
Jason Koumas curled his free-kick high and wide in stoppage time bit it was the Foxes who went into the break a goal to the good.
The Bluebirds started the second half brightly and came close inside the opening minute.
Lee broke immediately from the kick-off before pulling the ball back for Cameron Jerome, but the striker mis-kicked his attempted shot and the danger was cleared.
Patrik Gerrbrand's timely tackle thwarted Jerome in the 50th minute then Henderson had to be on hand to push Paul Parry's piledriver around the post for a corner on 64 minutes.
The home side continued to push forward in search of the equaliser and Joe Ledley's cross-cum-shot grazed the crossbar with Henderson beaten in the 69th minute.
Rhys Weston made way for Neal Ardley six minutes later before Dublin made way for top goalscorer Mark de Vries.
Koumas became the first player to be cautioned in the 79th minute when he brought down Gerrbrand.
Andrea Ferretti replaced Parry seven minutes from time then club captain Danny Tiatto made way for Patrick Kisnorbo on 85 minutes.
Henderson preserved the visitors' lead in the dying moments when he got down well to tip Ledley's header around the upright for a corner before the Australian twice saved well at the death to deny Ferretti.
His heroics plus Johansson's goal helped City move into the next round much to the travelling fans' delight.
City: Henderson, Maybury, McCarthy, Gerrbrand, Johansson, Hammond, Williams, Tiatto © (Kisnorbo 85), Gudjonsson, Hamill, Dublin (De Vries 78). Subs not used: Douglas, Sylla, Sheehan.
Cardiff: Margetson, Barker, Whitley, Purse ©, Koumas, Lee, Jerome, Parry (Ferretti 83), Weston (Ardley 75), Loovens, Ledley. Subs not used: Alexander, Darlington, Cox.
Yellow Cards
City: None
Cardiff: Koumas (79)
Referee: Iain Williamson
Attendance: 8,727
