Cup run ends but Cox is on his way for Swindon Town

Swindon took their time to settle but once they did they played the type of football that has made them League Two promotion contenders under Paolo Di Canio and Foxes goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was called upon to make a handful of decent saves in the first half.

In the end though, Leicester's superior know-how came to the fore to ensure there was no upset at the King Power Stadium.

Paul Gallacher overcame the back problem that forced him off just before half-time against Southampton as Foxes manager Nigel Pearson named the same side that started the 2-0 victory at St Mary's in the Championship on Monday night.

Swindon made just one change with defender Alan McCormack restored to the starting XI on his return from suspension in place of Aden Flint.

Thirty-nine places separated the two clubs in the Football League prior to kick-off and for the first 20 minutes it told.

Beckford put Leicester ahead after five minutes as Swindon made a nervy start.

Foxes captain Matt Mills got the ball into the penalty area following Gallacher's corner and Beckford made the Robins pay for some poor marking by striking a half-volley past Wes Foderingham from 12 yards out.

When Swindon finally did settle it took a superb save by Schmeichel to keep out Oliver Risser's header from Matt Ritchie's cross.

Schmeichel was called upon again just before the half-hour mark to parry Alessandro Cibocchi's shot from the edge of the box.

Ritchie thought he had equalised soon afterwards but a last-ditch challenge by Sean St Ledger deflected his six-yard effort over the crossbar.

Di Canio's side continued to put Leicester under pressure and worked Schmeichel again on the stroke of half-time when the former Manchester City trainee had to push away Cibocchi's long-range free-kick.

However, the League Two club, who were much less of a threat in the second half, were left rueing their missed opportunities eight minutes after the break when Beckford bagged his and Leicester's second goal.

Paul Caddis tried to cut out Gallacher's cross from the right but the ball broke to Beckford who scored with a rising shot from just in front of the penalty spot.

St Ledger came close to making it 3-0 after an hour when he headed wide from Gallacher's corner.

Ritchie responded for Swindon midway through the second half but his 18-yard shot cleared the crossbar.

Another Gallacher cross soon afterwards almost brought a goal for David Nugent but his close-range header was brilliantly saved by Foderingham.

'We showed we are a quality team'; Di Canio speaks: www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk

Teams: Macca returned to his new central defensive position in a 4-4-2 formation after a two-match suspension, and should be in the squad to face Southend United in the promotion six-pointer at Roots Hall Tuesday evening.

In fact, Di Canio stuck pretty closely to his first choice starting eleven, the former Shrimper the only change from the team that beat Macclesfield 1-0 in League Two the week before for Aden Flint, who was injured.

Luke Rooney, recently signed from Gillingham, came on in that game as a 52nd minute substitute and looked lively according to reports, but was cup-tied for Leicester so may be promoted against the team sitting second in the league, for now, to give a forward a rest just three days later, though it's doubtful that would be the dangerous Matt Ritchie.

Leicester City: Kasper Schmeichel; Lee Peltier, Matt Mills, Sean St Ledger, Paul Konchesky; Lloyd Dyer, Richie Wellens, Neil Danns, Paul Gallagher; Jermaine Beckford, David Nugent.

Subs: Steve Howard, Tom Kennedy, Tom Parkes, Aleksander Tunchev, Tom Hopper, Adam Smith.

Swindon Town: Wes Foderingham; Paul Caddis, Joe Devera, Alan McCormack, Alessandro Cibocchi; Matt Ritchie, Simon Ferry, Oliver Risser, Raffa De Vita; Paul Benson, Alan Connell.

Subs: Phil Smith, Jon Smith, Lukas Magera, Ronan Murray, Lander Gabilondo, Louis Thompson, Daniel Boateng