Town's woeful away run continued as the Blues were defeated 2-0 at Leicester City. The Foxes scored twice from first half set pieces, via Richard Stearman and Patrick Kisnorbo, while Jon Walters hit the post for Town, but the Blues never looked like getting back into the game.

Town lined-up with Jim Magilton making the expected changes, Gavin Williams coming into midfield for Danny Haynes, while Dan Harding took over from the concussed Sito at left-back.

The first action of the game saw Leicester's Richard Stearman get his name in referee Keith Hill's book for a foul on Dan Harding, the defender's third offence in the first seven minutes.

Alan Lee's cross from the right reached Gavin Williams beyond the far post, but the Welshman's shot failed to test Marton Fulop in the Leicester goal.

Harding picked up a caution for a foul on Collins John on the Town left and from the freekick the home side went in front. Stephen Clemence, a player targeted by Jim Magilton in the summer, whipped in a cross and the untracked Stearman was allowed to glance the ball past Neil Alexander. The Town keeper appealed for handball, but referee Hill was unimpressed.

Clemence was rightly cautioned for a very late foul on Tommy Miller on the Town right, then Stearman came close to his second of the game after again being allowed a free header at goal from a set piece. Fortunately for the Blues, this time the ball nestled in the sidenetting.

Town had rarely looked like scoring until just before the half hour when Garvan flicked the ball over the top for Lee to chase. However, keeper Fulop was out quickly to clear ahead of the Irishman.

The Blues gradually started to get their passing going after what had been a scrappy start to the game from both sides. Jon Walters was stopped in his tracks in a promising position inside the area, but still managed to get in a decent cross towards Pablo Couñago at the far post which Stearman headed over his own crossbar.

Gavin Williams committed a needless foul on James Chambers in the 32nd minute, referee Hill deciding the offence was worthy of a caution. From the freekick, Patrick Kisnorbo was left unmarked and, like Stearman earlier on, headed the ball into the net.

Collins John went looking for a third goal, but screwed his shot wide. At the other end, a freekick into the box was cleared to Dan Harding on the edge of the area, but his strike failed to test Fulop.

Alex Bruce clashed heads with Stearman in the 38th minute, the Town man requiring lengthy treatment before continuing.

On 41 Jon Walters came close to pulling a goal back when he headed Williams's deep freekick from the left against the outside of the post. The former Chester man looked like he felt he might have been offside and his attempt on goal lacked conviction when he should have scored.

Town's failings at set pieces — at both ends of the field — had again been shown up. Leicester had been gifted two goals from poorly defended freekicks, while at the other end Town had wasted innumerable corners. Aside from that, the half had been relatively even, with neither side playing particularly well and with goal threats from open play very rare.

Given the Blues' poor record away from home, there was little expectation amongst fans that Town would turn things around in the second half.

Boss Jim Magilton switched things around for the second half with Alan Lee moving to a wide right role and Jon Walters to the left in what looked like a 4-3-3 formation.

No sooner had the second period started than it was stopped by referee Keith Hill being felled by a David Wright clearance. The Hertfordshire official was caught in the head by the ball from around 10 yards and fell straight to the ground. After lengthy treatment, he was able to continue.

Pablo Couñago went to ground after turning a defender on the edge of the area, but Hill saw no foul. On 56 the referee decided he could continue no longer and was replaced by linesman Richard Smith for the remainder of the game.

Town were making little headway in a half which had failed to get going after the stoppages for the referee's injury. Jason De Vos scraped a good opportunity wide in the 65th minute, prior to Jim Magilton making a triple substitution.

Fabian Wilnis replaced Alex Bruce, probably due to his earlier injury, while Billy Clarke and Danny Haynes came on for Gavin Williams and Pablo Couñago. Lee went back to a central striking position with Clarke playing a central midfield role.

Clemence hit a shot straight at Alexander, then Tommy Miller's 30-yard freekick failed to test Fulop. Matty Fryatt shot on the turn but too close to Alexander, prior to Fulop getting across to push a Lee header wide, although the referee awarded a goalkick.

Former Canary Darren Kenton lashed well over from 20 yards, prior to Billy Clarke diverting a Tommy Miller freekick wide when he really ought to have scored.

Town continued to look unconvincing but had one or two late opportunities as the home side tired. Lee shot at Fulop, Garvan went wide, then Fabian Wilnis struck a volley but was also off target.

Clarke looped the ball over the bar from the edge of the area, just prior to the injury time board being raised announcing five additional minutes, despite the half having already entered its 50th minute.

Leicester might have added to their lead when Iain Hume broke away but Alexander saved his strike.

As the time moved past five o'clock, Jon Walters wasted the game's final opportunity, failing to get in his shot when well-placed inside the area.

Town were booed off by their large travelling support, increasingly fed-up with making long journeys for below-par performances.

A defeat seemed inevitable from the moment the Foxes went in front, Stearman's goal came from an inability to defend from a set piece, something which has been a consistent feature of the dismal away run which now stretches to 16 games. The situation was the exactly the same with the second goal.

Town briefly played some decent football just prior to the second goal, but after that heads dropped and the Blues never looked like getting back in the game.

The second half was if anything poorer than the first with Leicester happy to hold onto their lead, while Town never got on top and the result was never in doubt.

At home, the Blues look like play-off contenders, away they can't even defeat a poor Leicester side. A solution to the away problem appears to no nearer, nine months since Town's last victory on their travels. Town's next go at finally grabbing an away win comes at Coventry on Saturday.

Town: Alexander, Wright, Harding, Bruce (Wilnis 66), De Vos, Garvan, Miller, Williams (Clarke 66), Walters, Lee, Couñago (Haynes 66). Unused: Supple, Trotter. Att: 24,049.

Photo: Action Images

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