Forest pass up their gift as Clemence strikes late

Those emotional opposites were highlighted last night as East Midlands rivals Forest and Leicester renewed a cup battle dramatically abandoned at half-time three weeks ago.

The home fans reserved a vitriolic barrage of boos for their former boss Gary Megson — who took them down to League One in 2005 — as he returned after being installed at Leicester.

But moments later the Forest fans were on their feet, applauding, as from the kickoff the ball was deliberately planted in the path of their advancing goalkeeper, Paul Smith, who sauntered through Leicester's static defence and tapped into an unguarded net.

Pure theatre. And it restored the goal advantage Forest had held in the original tie when it was called off after Leicester's Clive Clarke suffered heart problems.

Leicester supremo Milan Mandaric expressed his gratitude for Forest's 'stirring' support for his club and their defender, who is recovering and waiting to see whether he will ever play again.

'That was our gift to Forest for the way they looked after our player,' said Mandaric. 'It was to show there is still fair play and morality in football.'

Megson, of course, had to rubber stamp the decision.

He did so without hesitation — and had no reason to regret it in the end.

After Forest had twice threatened to extend their lead, a superb free-kick by Alan Sheehan in the 32nd minute levelled the tie.

Forest, though, were far from finished and only a brilliant reflex save by Fulop prevented Luke Chambers squeezing a powerful header just inside the post.

Leicester struggled at first after the break and Forest thought they had set up a third-round tie against Aston Villa when Nathan Tyson broke down the left on 64 minutes and scored with a terrific left-foot shot.

But Leicester levelled through substitute Richard Stearman on 87 minutes and worse followed for Forest when Stephen Clemence hit a long-range shot which Smith fumbled into his net.