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

TractorBoy666 added 23:06 - Nov 23 So fed up of seeing us going in front in games, and then sitting back. It's the Mick McCarthy style! We were on top from the start and didn't take full advantage of it yet again. They stepped up a gear the beginning of the second, and won the game in that time. Anderson, why oh why did we swap JET with him I will never know. I don't see how people can say he's a better player, from what evidence? We miss Cresswell too as I didn't really think Mings had a great game. Ah well, off to Charlton next week so lets hope for a win!

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billlm added 23:34 - Nov 23 no offence like chambers as a man but please a natural right back dyer run him ragged all afternoon
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 00:14 - Nov 24 I dont want to slate him because there is definite potential there but those people who thought Mings played well today must have been at a different match to me. His positional sense was very poor and is passing was often at the wrong time and the wrong option. This is all coachable but not ready yet to challenge Cresswell. McGoldrick best town player by a country mile IMO.

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AbujaBlue added 10:45 - Nov 24 Well that was a shocking game. From the moment the goal was scored in the 2nd minute we were pretty appalling throughout. If it wasn't for the terrible shooting of Leicester in the first half we could easily have been 2-1 down before the break. When the goal came it was no surprise. When we changed to 4-3-3 there was at last a bit of momentum, but too little too late and nothing really effective. All the comments about Chambers at right back are correct so no point me going on about that. Mings has showed some real potential, he just has to work on it a bit more. There was one moment when he made a great forward run, but over-hit the ball as he was approaching goal. An example of something he can improve on. McGoldrick was great and as usual our stand-out player of the match. I had to laugh when someone sent a text to the Radio Suffolk phone-in after the match saying "after his goal McGoldrick was appalling for the whole match". Well, that says more about the stupidity of some people than anything else. I don't expect Anderson to be in the starting line up for much longer. But all of this 'one of Mick's boys' stuff is just silly, Mick sees things black and white and will change it, even if he does not change it instantly as some would like. I am worrying that Anderson is quickly turning to be the new Lee Martin (but without the crazy running and crazy temper). That would truly be the stuff of nightmares.

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Wickets added 12:02 - Nov 24 Although we where second best we did have enough chances to win. the excellent McGoldrick and the not so Anderson both missed one on ones with their keeper, Murthy twice spurned chances to shoot,Young Mings made an impressive run into their area before just losing control when about to shoot. Second half both Tunnicliffe and Chambers had very good chances,so it wasn't all doom and gloom!!

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Pabloisgod84 added 14:38 - Nov 24 We have no pace in the squad. we have minimal creative players. we have 1 striker. we have no imagination in our play. we have a bang average squad of players. WE HAVE A SEASON OF AVERAGENESS TO LOOK FORWARD TO. wake me up when next season starts
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Elizabeth added 16:04 - Nov 24 Strange how my comments are rated with a minus 1 .Obviously you fellow " fans" don't appreciate the truth. There are too many players at this club that are simply not good enough .I am beginning to doubt the ability of those in " charge ". All too often we don't capitalise on going ahead and press for further advantage. We seem to sit back and think the game is already won. Thi is a hard league to get out of! So please MM and TC change the tactics please.It's not working !!!!

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blueboy1981 added 16:56 - Nov 24 Elizabeth - good truthful post - spot on.
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blueherts added 17:14 - Nov 24 Yep Berra should make way for Chambers and Smith and we find a solid right back - Edwards may well have kept up with Dyer cos he was far too pacy - but he has been doing it all season and ;last .... How I wish we had a pacy winger - Anderson - yet to see anything from him sorry Still I would swap what we have now as opposed to last season !! deffo Three points at Charlton next week with Taylor at RM

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Elizabeth added 17:24 - Nov 24 Thank you Blue Boy !
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theobald1985 added 17:46 - Nov 24 another home defeat which would not be such a problem if we actually played well but in the second half we were sloppy and as soon as the equaliser went in there was only going to be 1 winner. I think Mcarthy needs to just go for it and play 424 Failing that I think we could play with wing backs very well. our 3 centre halves of smith berra snd chambers would be strong with edwards or hewitt on the right WB position and cresswell on the left WB position. stick skuse and Hyam in the middle with murphy and taylor up front and just give mcgoldrick a free role to cause trouble. We played wing backs with Burley and it worked a treat in this division

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ChappersITFC added 17:54 - Nov 24 Another frustrating day at Portman Road, disappointed to not have come out with a point from the game as Leicester were not that much better than us. Thank god Cressy is back next week, Mings was a liability but may improve with time. I agree with everyone posting that Chambers should move back to CB and MM should give Hewitt another chance. Anderson has been a big let down and unfortunately Tabb is out-muscled too often. Would like to see a 4-2-3-1 formation with Skuse and Hyam holding, Tunnicliffe on the left and Edwards or Taylor if he is fit on the right with Big Mac behind Murph.

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blueboy1981 added 20:13 - Nov 24 ...... what some of these so called 'readers of the game' expected from Mings yesterday - is totally beyond me. The lad had a thoroughly impressive and committed home debut - hardly put a foot wrong - and gets slated for it !!!! Someone had to take the blame for the totally inept performance, and I guess 'some' had to pick on the easy option, as opposed to seeing it as it 'really was' yet again. Give the lad encouragement - he deserved nothing less.

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DerryfromBury added 20:45 - Nov 24 Those commenting on Mings "Poor Performance" must be either armchair fans or were watching a different game than me. The lad had an above average game. along with Did's he was by far and away our best player, eager to get on with things and always trying to create something from nothing, and not afraid to mix it with the opposition. Okay, granted he's not the finished article, but on todays performance certainly deserves his place in the starting 11 at Charlton.

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corkblue added 20:54 - Nov 24 Worse than the Keane era - hoofing the long ball down field, no playing out from the back under any circumstances, instead present the opposition with free possession at every opportunity! ball in the air most of the time. Every headed clearance went straight to the opposition. I will not pay to watch such dismal displays henceforth.
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Keaneish added 07:35 - Nov 25 I don't think we sat back at all Saturday in the first half, i just think Leicester's ball retention and decision making was better than ours. Too many times we looked to turn them instead of play through the middle.
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lloyditfc96 added 08:42 - Nov 25 Of course loosing at home is disappointing, but one thing is for sure is we can compete with the bigger and better teams in this division, just need a few things tweaking and mentally as well and will be there. What is very important is we keep floating around in that top half of the table Onwards and upwards, was not that bad of a performance on Saturday
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 14:24 - Nov 25 blueboy - i dont see anyone blaming Mings for the defeat. I purely (and others) stated that he wasnt as you and i think one other stated impressive and our best player. He simply was not, by a long way. I wouldnt expext anymore from him at this stage of his career and there are certainly some encouraging signs there but on the day he was out of his depth at times.

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