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[davieG]

FANS CAN PLAY VITAL ROLE IN CUP - LEVEIN

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BY ANDY MANN

10:30 - 16 February 2005

Leicester City's travelling legion of fans were today challenged to sing their team to an FA Cup upset.

City have sold out of their allocation of 4,000 tickets for the trip to Charlton Athletic for the fifth-round clash on Saturday.

It will be the club's largest travelling support of the season, despite failed attempts by the club to obtain further tickets for the last-16 tie at The Valley.

And, although Premiership side Charlton will start the match as favourites to make it to the quarter-finals, City manager Craig Levein believes the travelling fans could provide the impetus for a surprise.

He said: "The supporters play a huge part. Hopefully by going there in massive numbers and making plenty of noise they can spur us on to a cup shock."

Levein pointed to the support City enjoyed at Blackpool and Reading in previous rounds as evidence of the role the supporters can play.

City fans travelled in numbers to Bloomfield Road and the Madejski Stadium, and helped lift the players to victories.

Now Levein has called on the City faithful to reproduce those levels of noise and support on Saturday.

"In the two Cup ties that we did win at Blackpool and Reading, the supporters played a massive part," he said. "Particularly at Blackpool.

"There, it was the most horrific night against a team from a lower division and they were in a stand with no cover - they were brilliant.

"I would have hated to have been out there watching.

"We also got a tremendous backing at Reading. To go there and score a last-minute goal at the end where our supporters were gathered was brilliant because they played such a huge part in that victory."

[Guest]

I think buying us all a drink would be a better way of showing us his appreciation.

[Ash]

Should be a great day at Charlton .. Best atmosphere of the season i hope

[Jonbluefox9]

Changing the subject slightly, Bill Anderson is either on holiday or isn't working for the Mercury anymore. This Andy Mann has been doing the football articles for the last two days at least. He might write some accurate match reports and give realistic ratings for players.