Town's nightmare start to the Jim Magilton era continued with a 3-1 defeat at Leicester City. The Blues rarely looked like getting anything out of the game and were two down when Matt Richards's 85th deflected shot beat keeper Paul Henderson, the Foxes completing their scoring in injury time.

As promised Magilton made changes to his starting line-up, Alan Lee coming in for his first start of the season and Darren Currie returning having been dropped for the trip to Wolves. Dean Bowditch moved to the left of midfield, Currie starting on the right, with Jaime Peters dropping out of the 16.

The first chance of the game fell to Leicester midfielder Stephen Hughes in the fourth minute, Shane Supple saving well with his feet and Jason De Vos eventually clearing.

Gavin Williams created an opening for Nicky Forster with some clever footwork in the seventh minute, the striker cutting in from the left and Henderson saving.

A minute later the home side went in front. Danny Tiatto whipped in a freekick from the right and Patrick Kisnorbo rose to head home unmarked, the post-goal finger-pointing from Jason De Vos making it clear that the Australian defender was meant to have been looked after by Alan Lee.

Forster shot from a tight angle on the left when a cross might have been a better option, then Currie curled a freekick wide of Henderson's right post.

Neither side was playing much that you could call decent football with the Blues particularly unable to retain possession for any length of time, lacking anyone of significant influence in midfield.

On 25 De Vos was beaten in the air by Matty Fryatt, for by no means the first time, but the former Walsall man's effort went over.

Bowditch, probably Town's best player in a dismal half, and Currie switched flanks just before the half hour, the ex-Brighton player having rarely been involved. Soon after, a Currie corner from the right caused problems in the Leicester penalty area, a defender inadvertently flicking on at the near post and the ball flying across the six-yard area and out for another corner.

The Foxes should have gone two in front in the 34th minute when Josh Low crossed for Matty Fryatt who completely missed his kick from six yards out with the goal gaping.

Fryatt hit a shot which was deflected wide in the 42nd minute, the linesman having missed the Leicester striker control the ball with his hand as he regained possession after a De Vos challenge.

Just before the break, Stephen Hughes was lucky to avoid being shown a card by referee Jonathan Moss for a late and high tackle on Alex Bruce which left the ex-Birmingham man crumpled in a heap. The tackle was so late that it was missed by the official.

It had been a woeful half from the Blues who rarely looked like creating a chance at one end and looked vulnerable both from set-pieces and from Leicester's long ball over the top approach at the other. The midfield had constantly lost possession with players often lost for passing options with the home side doing their best to close down quickly. It was difficult to recall three passes having been strung together or any of the front players holding the ball up.

Inevitably, there was a change at the break, perhaps the only surprise was that there was only one, Sam Parkin taking over from Nicky Forster alongside Lee.

The half was only five minutes old when Leicester increased their lead. Dean Bowditch's attempted clearance from the edge of the area fell straight to Stephen Hughes 20 yards out and the Rangers man struck a low shot beyond Supple and into the corner of the net. Bowditch, denied what looked a perfectly good goal at Wolves on Tuesday, fell to his knees with exasperation.

Alan Lee went down injured holding his hip area after a Patrick Kisnorbo tackle in the 53rd minute and required lengthy treatment before carrying on. The Irish international had looked a long way from full fitness in any case having missed virtually all of pre-season.

Sam Parkin sent in a clever low cross for Jason De Vos in the 56th minute, the Canadian having stayed forward after a freekick, however the skipper failed to read the striker's intentions and the ball went harmlessly across the area. Parkin had looked bright and had held the ball up and brought the midfield into play with a number of good touches after being introduced at the break.

Keeper Shane Supple took the ball past two Leicester players on the edge of his own area in a minute later his first touch having bounced slightly further ahead of him than he had expected.

On 59 Billy Clarke replaced the clearly ailing Alan Lee up front, the youngster making his first appearance of the season.

Supple pushed Elvis Hammond's shot into the sidenetting in the 61st minute, shortly before a penalty shout for Town when Hughes's raised hand appeared to get in the way of a Parkin header just inside the box.

A minute later Fryatt headed wide from close range when he should have scored, Darren Currie having surrendered possession in a dangerous position on the Town left.

There was off-field controversy in the 69th minute when Jim Magilton went to collect a ball for a quick Town throw-in. Despite being several feet behind the line, Leicester's Josh Low went to kick the ball and caught the Town manager with his boot. The incident was an inevitable flashpoint, although quite why Leicester coach Mike Stowell involved himself at the centre of proceedings, pushing Magilton, was anyone's guess. The referee spoke to all concerned without showing any cards.

Gavin Williams hit a rare Town effort on goal in the 70th minute, Henderson pushing the ball round the post. Williams picked up his second yellow card of the season not long after for a foul on former Canary loanee Elvis Hammond.

Leicester should have scored again in the 74th minute, Fryatt being played through one-on-one with Supple and slipping the ball one side of the keeper and running past him on the other. However, Dan Harding got to the ball first and conceded a corner.

Fryatt had the ball in the net a minute later but had to cut his celebration short due to a linesman's flag having been raised against one of his team-mates.

Billy Clarke wasn't far from his first senior goal when found in a promising position by Dean Bowditch, the ball just creeping past Henderson's post.

Matt Richards replaced the anonymous Currie and Town switched to 3-5-2 with Alex Bruce moving to centre-half and Bowditch moving into an advanced central midfield role.

Sub Richards reduced the deficit with five minutes left, picking up a loose ball 25 yards out and hitting a shot which deflected past the keeper.

Richard Naylor cleared off the line from Leicester sub Levi Porter after the youngster had taken the ball past Shane Supple, who wasn't have his best day between the Town sticks.

The Blues were suddenly looking like they might grab an unlikely equaliser, the home side having gone into panic mode since Richards's goal. The best chance fell to Gavin Williams from a freekick 25 yards out after a needless foul on De Vos by Iain Hume. However, the Welshman's tame kick was no trouble for keeper Henderson.

Town continued to push in the latter stages, Billy Clarke at one point having to climb a fence to retrieve the ball from the crowd with the ballboys having mysteriously disappeared.

But it was the Foxes who would add to the goals in injury time, the Town defence again found wanting as Hume was threaded through, the Canadian slipping the ball past Supple, the keeper having come off his line somewhat too hastily.

The third goal was really all Town, now bottom of the table, deserved after one of the worst away performances on record. The second half was a slight improvement on the first but it was difficult for it to have been any worse against a Leicester side who hardly looked any great shakes themselves.

The Blues' midfield is sorely lacking any creativity, spark, pace or the ability to control the game. Defensively, the long-term problems remain, while there was little threat up front. The only attacker who came out of the game with any credit was Sam Parkin who linked well with the midfield on a number of occasions.

The remaining fortnight of the transfer window looks likely to be a busy time at Portman Road if the Blues are to avoid this being a season of desperate relegation struggle.

Town: Supple, Sito, Harding, De Vos, Naylor, Bruce, Williams, Currie (Richards 79), Bowditch, Lee (Clarke 59), Forster (Parkin 46). Unused: Price, Wilnis. Att: 18,820

Photo: Action Images

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