Dismal Town sank to a 2-0 defeat at home to Leicester City. The Blues again enjoyed long spells of possession without creating clear-cut chances before succumbing to two Gareth McAuley headers, both from corners, one in each half. Owen Garvan was red-carded for a wild lunge 20 minutes from the end.

Jim Magilton gave midfielder Darren Currie a surprise recall on the left, while Alex Bruce came into the side for Richard Naylor, who has been suffering with his toe injury this week. Fabian Wilnis was OK to continue at centre-half and Owen Garvan passed his fitness test to take up his central midfield role.

Billy Clarke returned in place of the suspended Alan Lee. Gary Roberts was also banned, while Jason De Vos is hopeful that he could be back for next week's FA Cup tie at Watford.

There was an early scare for the Blues when Iain Hume found space on the edge of the Town area. Dan Harding made an important interception and Geoff Horsfield headed Mark Yeates's subsequent cross wide.

For the Blues, recent signing Jon Walters knocked the ball down to Billy Clarke but the young Irishman shot wide. Shortly afterwards, Walters hit a shot on the turn which was blocked as Town made a bright start.

Clarke found Currie in a good position inside the Leicester area but the linesman's flag had been raised, then keeper Paul Henderson did well to save Jaime Peters's well-struck volley. Gareth McAuley got to the rebound ahead of Jon Walters to put the ball out for a corner.

Iain Hume should have put the visitors in front in the 20th minute when Alex Bruce and David Wright both missed a cross from Yeates. Hume seemed surprised that the ball had arrived and managed only a weak header which gave Price no trouble.

Hume threatened the Town goal again a minute later after receiving the ball on left from a quickly taken freekick. David Wright got back and in the end the Canadian international was only able to hit a scuffed effort to Price.

Despite the Blues' overall control of the game, Leicester keeper Henderson had yet to make a save and, as was the case at Crystal Palace last week and on numerous occasions earlier in the season, Town were made to pay from a set piece. Levi Porter sent over a corner which flew through a crowd of players at chest height to the edge of the six-yard box where the unmarked McAuley stooped to head into the net.

Town didn't deserve to be behind on the balance of play but again showed their frailty at set pieces. The Blues went looking for an equaliser, but Clarke could only head a Currie freekick from halfway over the bar.

Hume might have put his side two goals up on 31 when Wilnis and Price left the ball for one another and the former Tranmere man seized on it at a tight angle. The Canadian tried to catch Price out with a shot to his near post but the Wales keeper saved. Wilnis was clearly unimpressed with Price for not claiming the ball.

At the other end, Peters battled for the ball on the edge of the 18-yard box and eventually managed a shot on the turn which went just wide. Soon afterwards, Clarke flicked Currie's cross from the right but Henderson saved.

In injury time, Porter broke quickly down the left but saw his shot deflect wide off David Wright.

The Blues had started the game strongly but again failed to turn that into goals. As has all too frequently been the case, defending a set piece proved to be Town's achilles heel. The rest of the half had seen Leicester come into the match more after showing little early on.

The second half started with Owen Garvan picking up the game's first yellow card for a foul on former Canary Andy Johnson.

On 50 Walters played a good ball wide to Clarke on the right, the Irishman cutting in and hitting a shot which Henderson tipped over. A ball across the box might have been a better option, although Walters complained to the referee that he had been held back as he ran into the area.

From the corner, the ball ended up wide on the left with Peters, who sent in a low ball which Legwinski couldn't divert goalwards.

Clarke struck a shot on the turn wide as the Blues started to look more like the side which had begun the game. However, a corner was again to prove Town's weakness. Porter played a short ball to Yeates, who whipped in a cross and the again unmarked McAuley rose to head past Price.

Town became increasingly shambolic from there, while the atmosphere on the terraces was as poisonous as it has been for a while with arguments erupting in the North Stand. A Peters shot wide was greeted with sarcastic applause.

Leicester might have added a third when Horsfield shot wide with the well under par Legwinski complaining that the loanee from Sheffield United had handled. Soon after, Levi Porter also went wide of Price's goal.

Peters played in Walters to the right of goal in the 66th minute, the former Chester man hitting a low shot back across Henderson and narrowly wide of the post. Jim Magilton decided to make changes to revitalise his generally sluggish side. Danny Haynes replaced the again quiet Clarke, while George O'Callaghan took over from Legwinski.

Within two minutes the Blues were down to 10 men. Garvan's first touch let him down and the Irishman lunged towards the ball and Levi Porter two-footed. Although he appeared to win the ball, it was an ugly, dangerous challenge and the only surprise was that referee Carl Boyeson showed a second yellow card before the red. Garvan joins Alan Lee in being suspended for next week's game at Watford.

Town moved to a 4-3-2 formation and actually looked more likely to score than prior to Garvan's dismissal. Walters headed a Wright cross goalwards but Patrick Kisnorbo hooked the ball away from goal.

With 10 minutes remaining, the again impressive Peters crossed from the right and Danny Haynes flicked a header just wide. A minute later O'Callaghan crossed from the left and Haynes headed over.

Peters, showing more endeavour than the vast majority of his team-mates, had a stab at goal from 20 yards but went just wide. In injury time, Walters hit a shot to Henderson, but it was a long way from Town's day and the final whistle was greeted with boos and the first “Sheepshanks out!” calls of the season.

Probably Town's poorest home performance of the season, having put in their worst away display of the season at Leicester back in August. The Blues lost their way after a promising, although not overly threatening start, and looked a like a side very short on confidence and self-belief against a Leicester team hardly likely to set the division alight.

As at Palace there was a lack of composure and willingness to shoot in and around the penalty area, while too many crosses hit the first defender or passes in to feet were misplaced.

Despite the addition of Jon Walters, who like George O'Callaghan showed some promise in difficult circumstances, Town still look unlikely to score and the addition of a predatory striker still looks like it should be Jim Magilton's priority.

Jason De Vos's absence may well have led to Town's renewed weakness from corners, but both goals came from no one picking up McAuley.

Thoughts of the play-offs were all but extinguished before Christmas and unless the Blues sort themselves out soon, a relegation battle could be a more realistic prospect between now and May.

Town: Price, Wright, Harding, Wilnis, Bruce, Legwinski (O'Callaghan 66), Garvan, Peters, Currie, Walters, Clarke (Haynes 66). Unused: Supple, Richards, Sito. Att: 21,221.

Photo: Action Images

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