David Nugent continued his remarkable goalscoring record against the Blues as Leicester came from behind to beat Town 2-1 at Portman Road. David McGoldrick put the home side in front in the second minute but Nugent — who has now scored 13 goals in 12 matches against Town and nine in seven at Portman Road — scored twice in six minutes as the Foxes improved after the break.

Mick McCarthy returned to his tried and tested 4-4-2 formation with Tommy Smith and Paul Anderson back in the side and Luke Hyam and Carlos Edwards dropping to the bench. Leicester switched to 4-3-3 from their expected 4-4-2, while Tyrone Mings was making his home debut for Town.

Blues keeper Dean Gerken needed treatment after being caught on the head early on and after he had recovered, Town went ahead via the game’s first shot.

McGoldrick found himself to shoot five yards outside the penalty area to the right and hit a low strike which beat Kasper Schmeichel to his left. While the Town striker celebrated his seventh goal of the season, the keeper will have been thinking he ought to have done much better.

Blues nemesis Nugent shot across the face of goal almost immediately, then McGoldrick seized on a poor Paul Konchesky backpass but Schmeichel was alive to it and blocked his shot. Soon after, Foxes right-back Liam Moore headed a Danny Drinkwater corner into Gerken’s arms.

It had been a lively first 15 minutes with Leicester increasingly having most of the ball but with Town looking more dangerous in the final third.

However, on 17 Lloyd Dyer sent a dangerous ball across from the Leicester left after a Jamie Vardy shot had deflected to him, but ahead of any of his team-mates. A minute later, Daryl Murphy sent over a deep ball from the Town left and Luke Chambers shot over.

Home debutant Mings had a chance in the 21st minute when he broke forward having won the ball from Moore in his own half. A Murphy cross deflected to the left-back but the ball got caught under his feet and ricocheted through to Schmeichel.

Gerken tipped over Andy King’s header from Drinkwater’s right-wing corner in the 41st minute before the Blues broke dangerously, Murphy having the ball stabbed away from him just as he looked to shoot, then Anderson having a low cross cut out having taken the ball into the area on the right.

On 43, Skuse played a freekick to McGoldrick on the edge of the Leicester box but the Blues’ top scorer’s shot looped into the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand.

Vardy will feel he should have done better moments before the end of scheduled time when he smashed Dyer’s left-wing cross well wide.

A minute later, referee Oliver Langford blew his whistle to end a battling first half display from the Blues.

After Town grabbed the early goal through McGoldrick, the visitors had most of the ball but with Gerken only rarely tested. When the Blues did get forward they had looked more dangerous and had created most of the game’s better chances.

Foxes boss Nigel Pearson switched King and Moore for Ignasi Miquel and Matty James as the second half got underway with Tunnicliffe forcing Schmeichel into a sharp save to his right.

Chambers picked up the game’s first yellow card for a somewhat cynical foul on a breaking Dyer in the 50th minute.

A minute later, Leicester got back on terms and inevitably Nugent was the goalscorer. Dyer crossed from the left, Vardy laid it back to the edge of the box and the former England man slammed the ball past Gerken.

On 56 Murphy headed a Chambers cross from the right to Schmeichel, then the visitors could have gone in front when Dyer found Vardy with a deep cross from the left, but keeper Gerken reacted quickly to come off his line to block.

A second Leicester goal was only a minute more in coming, however, and again Nugent was the scorer. Drinkwater sent Dyer away, the winger taking the ball round Gerken before cutting it back from the right to Nugent, who diverted the ball home from six yards.

The Foxes had got well on top after the break and were worth their lead. On 64 McCarthy switched things around, bringing on Frank Nouble and Paul Taylor for Anderson and Tabb and moving to the 4-3-3 system which paid dividends at Blackpool.

As the game moved into its final 20 minutes Leicester retreated into their own half with Town having more of the ball but without overly threatening, aside from blocked Nouble and Skuse strikes.

Chambers came closer to an equaliser in the 73rd minute when he nodded Taylor’s cross from the left down but across the face of Schmeichel’s goal.

Dyer should have added to the Foxes’ lead a minute later when he ran on to Vardy’s cross from the right but blazed over. Moments later, Vardy was replaced by Chris Wood, then Mings made way for Stephen Hunt.

Konchesky was allowed to bring the ball forward from his own half before shooting well over in the 79th minute with the Foxes by now happy to defend in depth and hit Town on the counter-attack.

Taylor chipped an effort from the edge of the area into Schmeichel’s arms on 81 with the Blues having a lot of the ball but without creating any clear-cut chances.

But there was a scare for the visitors in the 84th minute when Hunt’s crossed flashed across the six-yard box, somehow avoiding both Nouble and Murphy.

As the match moved into its final scheduled minute McGoldrick curled a shot just over from the left, then at the other end Nugent cut in from the left but shot across the face of goal.

Soon after, referee Langford’s whistle went to confirm yet another Nugent-inflicted defeat, the 28-year-old — a player Jim Magilton and Paul Jewell tried to sign during their spells as Town boss - having taken his record to 13 goals in 12 against the Blues for Preston, Portsmouth and Leicester and nine in seven at Portman Road, including a goal for England’s U21s against Moldova in 2006.

Overall, Leicester deserved the three points on the balance of the second half with the Blues never really looking like getting back in it after Nugent’s two goals.

McCarthy will be disappointed that his team again went in front and took nothing from the game, although he said beforehand that he believes the Foxes are the best side in the division and his side would have to be at the top of their game to take anything from the match.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Berra, Smith, Mings (Hunt 76), Anderson (Taylor 64), Skuse, Tunnicliffe, Tabb (Nouble 64), Murphy, McGoldrick. Unused: Loach, Edwards, Hyam, Wordsworth, Hunt, Nouble, Taylor.

Leicester City: Schmeichel, Moore (Miquel 46), Konchesky, Morgan (c), Wasilewski, Hammond, Drinkwater, King (James 46), Dyer, Nugent, Vardy (Wood 75). Unused: Logan, James, Schlupp, Bakayogo, Taylor-Fletcher, Miquel, Wood. Referee: Oliver Langford (West Midlands). Att: 18,227.

Photo: Action Images

rhybeaniho added 18:25 - Nov 23 Quote from Taaj of Come Fly With Me "You get me got, you got me good!".
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runningout added 18:46 - Nov 23 looked like we called it a day at 1 nil up.... Cant do that with only one decent forward in your ranks!! Not understanding of celebrations from any team going one goal up with 80 odd minutes left to play. That's a bug bear with me that's all........
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Robbie12345 added 19:07 - Nov 23 Sorry, was I watching a differant game?! Mings played incredibaly well, as good if not better than Cresswell does! He was up and down that wing, winning every header, being very physical, winning most tackles very well, playing some world class passes and through balls! I think we have a real gem of a player here, and will be able to be a more than decent replacement of Cresswell if he does leave us. I was sitting 2nd row and saw up close many of these world class moments, he looked solid! I belive he got caught twice on the counter attack (understandable for a few a game for right and left backs), but worked his socks off and caught them back, hitting it off for a throw! My man of the match!

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blueboy1981 added 19:10 - Nov 23 ....... the mentality of some people ?? - How can anyone 'hate' Nugent for consistently being ABLE to score against us. Yet again today - he didn't have to be exceptional to do so, not once but twice - he had the two goals laid on a plate for him, so much time, and no one on him. Typical - back off for 15 mins start of 2nd half - end of story - net result - 0 POINTS. Fair to Average mid table team at best, we are. No doubt there will be 101 excuses for another inept HOME performance. Hit the minus button - as normal.

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marco007 added 19:12 - Nov 23 Predictable team, predictable formation, predictable lead, predictable lost lead, predictable goals from Nugent, predictable post match comments, predictable moans.......yawn, yawn, yawn!!!
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blueboy1981 added 19:13 - Nov 23 Robbie12345 - agree with you - Mings was exceptional today - good performance from the lad.
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blueboy1981 added 19:18 - Nov 23 ........ and please, please, please, don't mention, yet again, that the 'table' looks better than it did at this time last year - that really is the lamest of the lame.
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Surco72 added 19:26 - Nov 23 I for one stated after the Blackpool game that MM's selections were forced through injury and suspension not some master tactics , when all are available he goes back to a team that hadnt won in five games . Taylor still doesnt start ? Is he still not match fit Mick ? Still cannot decide his best centre backs so plays all three . Still no left midfielder or creative player Nouble still coming onto the pitch Defence not working , midfield not creating ,only scored more than 1 goal 5 times this season and getting out managed by most teams in second half all season . Average mid table boring is best we can expect under play it safe MM rather than trying to win home games , i wonder how many points we are behind his win at home draw away ratio ?

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TimmyH added 19:26 - Nov 23 Have to agree with blueboy we are an average Championship team that shows as much inconsistency as a lot of other clubs around us in the league, in fact many of the clubs are 'much the muchness' - only clubs like QPR and now Leicester stand out from the crowd and you have to take your hat off to Sean Dyche at Burnley for what he has done there this season, where did that come from? but expecting them to tail off somewhat come the business end of the season. Mick has no doubt 'stabilized' us as many people on this forum keep saying but is he capable of much more? drab 4-4-2 formations and some gritty low brow signings (thanks in part to the board) aren't doing that much more for us. Like it or not folks Mick will have the ITFC boat in safe waters but never winning any races!

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Elizabeth added 19:28 - Nov 23 Nothing to say really only beaten by the better team. It's no good complaining about David Nugent.Just a shame that we don't have a player of the same calibre! Could have signed him in the past if we really wanted to but we are where we are! We are in a pretty good position in the league at this time of the season . Just lacking on the old consistency front. Now for the next game ...

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blueherts added 19:29 - Nov 23 Just back from game and I too am bit surprised ( but possibly not on here!!) at the negativity to Mings - I think he is a decent prospect and certainly didn't have a bad game He mixed it up and made some great challenges - some people on here amaze me I think Cresswell should be given a go at LM as Anderson offers nothing exc a nice moustache - We so rely on McGoldrick and do agree that Chambers is better at CM with TS But Leicester are a step up from us and having seen them dismantle us 6-0 last year progress is being made Nouble stayed in the car park again it seems and Murphy was awol for second half As I said the other week we have most of the pieces at the club but one thing!!! Please bring Hewitt and Marriott back and play them !!

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blueboy1981 added 19:30 - Nov 23 ........ what we have seen today, and generally speaking - is MICK McCARTHY - no more, or less, can be expected.
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StowTractorBoy added 19:42 - Nov 23 Cannot quite believe the people calling for Hewitt to come in at right back. You clearly have not seen his performances of late. MM told us on the Radio last night he has gone backwards and I agree with him. We have to face the fact that Leicester are a far better all round team than we are and what I envy so much is that they have so much pace in the side when we have absolutely none. Many of us called for Tunnicliffe to play a more central role well I think we can forget that in the future as he was poor and missed a great chance to equalise just after the break. That missed chance cost us dearly as we were then badly exposed to their pace and the superb finishing of Nugent. Not the end of the world as Leicester will in my opinion get promoted this season although their defence did look a bit vulnerable at times, but overall it shows how much work MM has to do to come up to their standards. January in the window could be crucial as we need flair in the middle of the park and some much needed pace. How many imes has that been stated this season.

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Keaneish added 19:55 - Nov 23 Not good enough today. We waited until we went behind to start playing the ball about. Yes our shape changed with the subs but why wait that long to retain possession and look to work openings? Too many balls in the channels or in behind to turn the Leicester back four today when we have players on the pitch who can damage sides with balls to feet. Anderson and Tabb vs Hunt and Taylor….????? It's a no brainer. The more you attack, the more they have to defend so i don;t buy we have Anderson and Tabb starting as they're good at tucking in and making the midfield compact. Got caught on the break too many times as well today. Is this what happens when Hyam isn't in the side? I wonder...

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TimmyH added 20:06 - Nov 23 Yep agree Keanish (Kevin Bacon) and don't forget after the Blackpool game we thought Mick would have a lot to think about with players coming in and doing well, different formations etc. but No Mick goes back almost to what he knows best! - totally demoralized when I saw the starting line-up, Mick at times to me is just too cautious. Leicester looked nervy at times at the back but we never had the correct players on the pitch in the first place, it's almost as if he plays every game not to beaten and if we snatch a goal late on then all to the good. Agree with surco72 as well - I know we are only 12th at the moment but we really look like crown winners of the most inconsistent team in the Championship.

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Hegansheroes added 20:10 - Nov 23 WTF was Anderson doing in the starting line up. McCarthy is a fxckin dinosaur with absolutely no tactical savvy, go. 45 minutes at Blackpool & every one thinks he's God, we were very lucky to get that away win. Bring back Jim M, he was certainly better than this imbecile.
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terryball2012 added 20:12 - Nov 23 Leicester had pace on both wings which was the difference between the teams. I thought that Mings played well until Leicester scored and he and the rest of the team lacked confidence after that.McGoldrick is class and deserves more.Hope MM will be more ambitious from the beginning of matches soon. Overall we did not test their goalkeeper enough and we lost a good game to one of the best teams in this division.

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terryball2012 added 20:13 - Nov 23 Leicester had pace on both wings which was the difference between the teams. I thought that Mings played well until Leicester scored and he and the rest of the team lacked confidence after that.McGoldrick is class and deserves more.Hope MM will be more ambitious from the beginning of matches soon. Overall we did not test their goalkeeper enough and we lost a good game to one of the best teams in this division.

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runaround added 20:17 - Nov 23 A story of missed chances, we started well with a cracker from Didsy & could easily have had a couple more. We managed to keep Leicester at arms length first half but second half it was a different story. Had Chambers put his header away to make it 2-2 the result could well have gone in our favour & I still don't know how he missed as it looked a certain goal. However in the end Leicester had more quality than us, more attacking & creative in midfield, more pace from likes of Dyer & a class striker in Nugent. We don't have that midfield quality or pace yet but perhaps in a year or 2 we may have

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adeblueboy added 20:19 - Nov 23 Back with the trusted eleven that hadn't won a game for five matches. We are at home we play with four negative midfielders who don't know where the oppositions penalty area is. why does he play Anderson I cannot see what he brings to our team does anyone know? Tabb also. We need a creative midfielder Taylor or give cresswell a go. Also think chambers IS a centre back not a right back. We have right backs play them.

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shenfieldblue added 20:34 - Nov 23 The only way to stop Nugent scoring is put him in a Ipswich shirt. We were outclassed today. Poor midfield. MM must take the blame aswell as the credit when it goes well.
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Bobby_Petta added 20:53 - Nov 23 So why isn't Wordsworth given a chance? why didn't Taylor start after Blackpool game? What did Hewitt do wrong, we were better defensively with Hewitt at fall back and chambers in the middle. Mick your to defensive and boring at home need to go for it more. How does Tabb, Anderson get a start every week it is a joke, offer very little. Got to be the worse Midfield in years no creativity or flair, with have the players but the management won't pick them.

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JCBLUE added 21:06 - Nov 23 Cresswell back next week & good points tally expected from the next few games.
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thebeat added 21:20 - Nov 23 Mings wasnt bad today but kept getting sucked towards the ball and was out of position a few times. This is to be expected as he's just a kid learning his trade but you can say exactly the same about Hewitt so why is one loaned out yet the other is trusted? The answer is Mings was signed by Mick whereas Hewitt wasnt. The defence is poor compared to last season because Smith and Chambers have been split to accomodat another Mick signing Berra. Its the same with "The ghost" Paul Anderson.If hes better than Edwards and Taylor then football has become a non participation sport. But hes one of Micks boys so he plays.

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BlueMachines added 23:05 - Nov 23 Again an inability to deal with a tactical change by the opposition. Very frustrating!
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