Boss Mick McCarthy says last year’s 6-0 defeat at Leicester “really, really hurt” everyone at Portman Road and warns that the Blues will have to defend far better than they did then if they are to take anything from their return to the King Power Stadium this afternoon.

The Blues made the trip to Leicester four games into McCarthy’s tenure after an away win at Birmingham, a 5-0 thrashing at Crystal Palace and a home victory over Burnley. An eighth-minute penalty, inevitably scored by David Nugent, set the Foxes on their way to a very comfortable victory.

“That hurt, that hurt,” McCarthy admitted. “It was win one, lose one at that point. The problem was that it was that tight at the bottom that we were thinking we’d have to rely on goal difference and we’d conceded so many and hadn’t scored that many.

“It really, really hurt. It hurt all of us. But we beat them here [1-0 later on that season] so I don’t get wrapped up in what happened last year.

“We’ll have to play well and we’ll have to defend a damn sight better than we did last year or we’ll get sunk much the same because they are a very good team.”

McCarthy says he won’t be going there to park the bus: “They played on Wednesday night, I think we’ve got to try and make the most of that and be an attacking force, go and press them and try and get something out of them.

“If you just sit back and let them have it, they’ll recover from Wednesday night and they’re not an easy team to stop. They’re the best team in the league by a good margin.”

Meanwhile, former Blue Fabian Wilnis, 43, has resumed his playing career with Ryman League Premier Division Leiston.

Photo: Action Images

wkj added 08:10 - Feb 22 A 0-0 draw today will be as good a feeling as if we win the champions league today. From seeing Nouble in action this year so far he's going to need to step up considerably if we stand a chance of winning is my feeling. I'm usually really upbeat too
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Letchworth_Blue added 08:23 - Feb 22 Only time I've gone to a game genuinely thinking we will get hammered. Going to get there early to get a few beers down before. Really hope I'm wrong, but with Nouble and Murph playing in front of a defensive midfield I can't see any opportunities to score. A set piece is our only chance. At the other end you can't keep Leicester at bay for 90 minutes by playing deep, but I fear MM will try and do this. Cummon Mick be adventurous, play up the park, bring on Tayls and SEB early and try and get us the win. Rather go down trying, than suffering wave after wave of attack trying to hold on to a 2-0 defeat.

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LiamCP123 added 08:36 - Feb 22 You have to love Mick though. “They played on Wednesday night, I think we've got to try and make the most of that and be an attacking force, go and press them and try and get something out of them.
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StuartBrett8 added 08:54 - Feb 22 Nouble to 'distract' Leicester for 60 minutes.... then SEB to score the winner :)
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chicorytwin added 10:07 - Feb 22 Prehistoric manager with prehistoric tactics. Comfortable home win for Leicester.
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AbujaBlue added 10:14 - Feb 22 It's nice to see the legend is at Leiston maintaining his Suffolk connections!
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SouperJim added 11:06 - Feb 22 wkj while I agree a draw would be a good result, feeling as good as winning the champions league? I fancy you're being a touch dramatic there.
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pazelle added 11:08 - Feb 22 What a result for Mick and the team if we were to win this one! Why not? The biggest test left this season! PS Good old Fabian!
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