Leicester City's players can hold their heads high despite going down 4-3 to Carling Cup holders Chelsea in the fourth round of the competition at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday evening.
Buoyed by a magnificent travelling contingent which completely swamped the Shed End of the ground, stand-in skipper Gareth McAuley handed the Blue Army an early treat when he headed home with great aplomb from Matty Fryatt's cross on six minutes.
It certainly caused Avram Grant's side a fright on Halloween night but their multi-million superstars hit back with two goals in 10 first-half minutes from Frank Lampard which turned the game in the hosts' favour.
The Foxes continued to give it a real go under the caretaker stewardship of Frank Burrows and Gerry Taggart and this paid dividends when substitute DJ Campbell and Carl Cort sent their fans into delirium with two goals in four second-half minutes to make it 3-2.
A huge scalp looked on the cards but Andriy Shevchenko had other ideas and his wonder strike from 20-yards in the 86th minute followed by Lampard's controversial scrambled third in injury time broke City hearts and made it 46 consecutive home games without defeat for Chelsea.
As early as the third minute, Alan Sheehan had to be alert to head clear Lampard's deep cross from the left flank.
However, it was the visitors who sent their 6,500 fans wild on six minutes thanks to a dream start.
Shaun Newton played in Fryatt down the left hand side, he beat Steve Sidwell before delivering a pin-point cross for the unmarked McAuley who powered his downward header into the back of the net past Carlo Cudicini for a glorious opener.
The Foxes were understandably lifted by their opener and continued to match their Premier League opponents in the opening stages.
Sidwell fired high over the bar on 16 minutes after picking up the loose ball on the edge of the area.
It was then Claudio Pizarrio's turn to drag his effort well wide of the target two minutes later.
However, the home side equalised in the 20th minute through Lampard.
Juliano Belletti's deep cross found Scott Sinclair at the back post and his header back across goal was driven low into the back of the net by the England international midfielder to draw his side level.
Sidwell was cautioned for a late challenge on James Chambers on 24 minutes before Andriy Shevchenko wasted a golden opportunity to put his side ahead two minutes later.
Goalscorer McAuley's back pass to Marton Fulop was underhit and the multi-million pound striker capitalised, beating the Hungarian international to the ball but his shot from the left hand side lacked power and the recovering Patrick Kisnorbo was able to clear.
But Chelsea did make it 2-1 on the half-hour when Sinclair's low left-wing cross was only half-cleared by Bruno N'Gotty and Lampard was again on hand to tuck the loose ball home from close range.
Newton was booked for a foul on Paulo Ferreira in the 33rd minute then Tal Ben Haim followed suit for a late lunge on Fryatt six minutes later.
At the other end, Fryatt's snap-shot was blocked by Alex on 42 minutes then the same player almost saw his well-struck shot cross the line after Cudicini had failed to hold on to his effort on the turn.
That was to be the last meaningful action of the first half as Avram Grant's side went into the break with a slender advantage.
City were first to show after the break when Darren Kenton shot over on 46 minutes before Fryatt tried his luck from distance but his shot failed to trouble Cudicini.
Florent Malouda replaced the injured Ferreira in the 52nd minute then Fulop got down well to deny Pizarro five minutes later.
Fulop was again called into action a minute later when he diverted Sinclair's shot on to the post before being first to the rebound.
City made their first change on the hour when Levi Porter replaced Newton then DJ Campbell came on for Fryatt two minutes later as the visitors pushed for a leveller.
Fulop was at it again on 65 minutes when he brilliantly blocked Pizarro's shot after he connected with Shaun Wright-Phillips' low cross from the right.
But the visitors did grab a second in the 70th minute when Campbell latched on to Porter's exquisite through ball and looped his header over the advancing Cudicini for a well-deserved equaliser in front of his own fans.
Sheehan was booked for a foul on Wright-Phillips on 71 minutes.
It got even better for City three minutes later when Carl Cort turned home Sheehan's free-kick to make it 3-2 and spark the celebrations.
Chelsea made a double change in the 80th minute with Salomon Kalou and Michael Essien coming on for Sinclair and Ben Haim while Alan Maybury replaced the injured Porter a minute later.
But Chelsea draw themselves level four minutes from time when Shevchenko drove a left-footed effort into the top corner past Fulop to make it 3-3 to set up a grandstand finish.
Fulop then turned away Lampard's long range drive in stoppage time.
But the England international midfielder broke Leicester hearts in injury time when he turned the ball home following a goalmouth scramble to steer his side into the quarter-finals.
City: Fulop, Kisnorbo, McAuley (c), N'Gotty, Stearman, Chambers, Kenton, Newton (Porter 60) (Maybury 81), Sheehan, Fryatt (Campbell 62), Cort. Subs not used: Henderson, Hellings.
Chelsea: Cudicini, Shevchenko, Lampard (c), Sidwell, Pizarro, Sinclair (Kalou 80), Ferreira (Malouda 52), Ben Haim (Essien 80), Wright-Phillips, Alex, Belletti. Subs not used: Hilario, Mikel.
Yellow Cards
City: Newton (33), Sheehan (71), Fulop (90)
Chelsea: Sidwell (24), Ben Haim (39)
Referee: Phil Dowd
Attendance: 40,037
