FRANK LEBOEUF scored the most controversial FA Cup penalty in years to send Chelsea through to the last eight. And this time it was Ruud Gullit whose side could count themselves lucky for the decision that allowed the Frenchman to earn a trip to Portsmouth.

But Leicester had every right for their fury after all their efforts rendered useless by referee Mike Reed's penalty award. The official had exasperated manager Martin O'Neill and his men with a series of decisions all through a night of real tension.

Yet none were as questionable as the one he made just four minutes from the end of extra time.

Substitute Erland Johnsen, who had replaced Dan Petrescu with 15 minutes of the extra period left, came forward from the back and played in to fellow substitute Luca Vialli. The Italian flicked on and Johnsen continued right into Spencer Prior before falling to the ground.

But Reed pointed straight to the spot, sparking a bout of pushing and shoving with tempers boiling over.

Leboeuf, whose last minute clearance had made extra time possible, kept his head when all about were losing theirs, smashing home his sixth of the season from 12 yards, to leave Leicester with nowhere to go.

Nowhere but, in O'Neill's case, straight for the referee at the end, stewards having to restrain O'Neill from something he might regret at the tunnel entrance.

Yet his frustration and anger were understandable, for his side had deserved to go out on a series of penalties, not one of such dubious merit. O'Neill wasn't the only one to lose his cool as the referee booked 10 players during the match.

Leicester had given their all, Gullit's Filbert Street jibe having fired them up, although the way Roberto Di Matteo, Dennis Wise and Dan Petrescu combined to open the way for Mark Hughes in the third minute suggested his confidence would not be misplaced.

But Prior got across to block, and although Emile Heskey - one of the four men back from suspension and operating as a left wing back - was booked early on Leicester lacked nothing in effort.

Or indeed enterprise, with Ian, Marshall not far away with a deflected shot, before Di Matteo went close after a great run and link with Gianfranco Zola.

Zola, though threatening, was more peripheral than he or Gullit would have liked, and the setpiece frailty that cost Chelsea at Filbert Street was still evident.

Marshall should certainly have done better from Garry Parker's 16th minute corner and with Leicester working over time to deny Chelsea the space they needed, they looked as likely to break the deadlock.

It was Leicester, though, who started the second half the brighter, with Neil Lennon breaking down the left and Steve Clarke just, beating Marshall to his low centre.

But Chelsea, with Vialli operating as a third striker, did step up a gear. Hughes dragged wide and then somehow missed the target from six yards after Wise's measured cross.

Both sides deserved the extra half hour, but it was only Leboeuf's goalline intervention that earned it, big Matt Elliott up from the back to meet Parker's cross and beat Frode Grodas, with the Frenchman's header keeping the ball out.