David Nugent’s inevitable goal was sandwiched between strikes from Jamie Vardy and Chris Wood as Championship leaders Leicester comfortably beat Town 3-0 at the King Power Stadium. Vardy opened the scoring in the 19th minute, Nugent added the second on 31 and Wood completed the scoring two minutes before the end.

As expected, Frank Nouble replaced injured top scorer David McGoldrick alongside Daryl Murphy up front, while Dean Gerken returned in goal, despite Scott Loach’s impressive display in last week’s 0-0 draw with Blackpool.

Jay Tabb took over in midfield from Luke Hyam, who is out for a fortnight with the hamstring injury he suffered in the early stages against the Seasiders. For Leicester, Jeff Schlupp replaced the suspended Paul Konchesky at left-back.

There was an early scare for Town, in their red and black away kit, when the wind caught a ball over the top but Tommy Smith got across to dispossess Vardy.

There was another worrying moment in the third minute when Gerken mishandled Luke Chambers’s header back to him but fortunately grabbed hold of the ball before it reached his goal and ahead of Vardy.

The table-topping home side were starting strongly and on four Gerken saved sharply down to his left after Wes Morgan had headed Matty James’s left-sided corner goalwards.

Vardy claimed Smith had felled him as he chased the ball in a promising area in the seventh minute but referee James Linington waved away his protests, the former Fleetwood man having gone to ground very easily.

Cole Skuse mis-hit Town’s first chance of the game wide in the 12th minute after Paul Green had caught James dallying in possession on the edge of his own area. The loose ball fell nicely to the former Bristol City man, who should have gone much closer to netting his first goal for the Blues.

Marcin Wasilewski got his name in referee Linington’s book for a high challenge on Stephen Hunt on 16 then moments later Tabb joined him for a foul on Vardy.

Cresswell forced Kasper Schmeichel into his first serious save of the afternoon on 18, the left-back whipping over a cross-shot which the Danish international tipped beyond the bar.

Vardy had been Leicester’s main danger and in the 19th minute he put his side in front, although with significant help from the Blues. Tabb failed to spot the Leicester striker in behind his defenders and played a backpass towards Gerken which Vardy intercepted and then flicked past the Town keeper from a tight angle on the left.

Twelve minutes later, it was 2-0 and perhaps inevitably David Nugent was the scorer. Chambers tried to divert Ritchie De Laet’s cross from the right behind but only succeeded in returning the ball to the Belgian, who sent it back into the box to Nugent, who gleefully tapped home his 14th goal in 13 games against the Blues and sixth in five for Leicester against Town.

There was little doubt that Leicester had been on top from the off but both goals owed almost everything to woeful Town defending.

Anthony Knockaert went looking for a third, curling a 36th minute freekick just wide, then just before the break Wasilewski flicked James’s cross from the left just over.

As the half moved into injury time, Nugent found Lloyd Dyer breaking down the centre to his right but Aaron Cresswell got across to dispossess the winger.

The end of the half came as a bit of a relief for the Blues who had been shown exactly why Leicester are top of the table and seemingly certain to return to the Premier League come May.

The Foxes had been on top throughout — Skuse’s scuffed shot was Town’s only real chance — but both goals were the result of poor defending. Given the home side’s superiority, a second half Town comeback seemed an unlikely prospect.

Morgan headed a Knockaert corner wide at the far post five minutes after the restart with Leicester starting the second half on the front foot.

On 54 Knockaert shot wide from the right with Cresswell on the ground just off the pitch having hurt himself trying to cut out an earlier Vardy cross. The Blues left-back was OK to return after treatment.

Nouble showed persistence to come close to blocking a Schmeichel kick, then on the hour Smith was unable to keep a header down at the far post after Berra had flicked on a Cresswell freekick from the left. On 61 Paul Anderson replaced Tabb with Green moving into the middle.

Town were looking more of a threat than they had in the first half and in the 61st minute Hunt’s cross from the left eventually fell to Murphy after battling work from Nouble but the Irishman’s scuffed shot failed to test Schmeichel. In the 66th minute Sylvan Ebanks-Blake replaced Nouble.

James shot wide from distance for the Foxes on 68 with the half a more even affair than the first period. Three minutes later, Cresswell dragged a 25-yard freekick well wide when he ought to have done better.

Gerken blocked Schlupp’s shot from a tight angle on the left in the 74th minute after good work from sub Riyad Mahrez prior to Paul Taylor taking over from Hunt.

Ebanks-Blake’s backheel from Anderson’s low ball from the right in the 79th minute was too close to Schmeichel, then the former Forest and Bristol City man couldn’t get away from Schlupp after being sent away by Murphy’s clever flick.

Taylor shot into the side-netting from the left as the game entered its final seven minutes. Town’s nemesis Nugent made way having netted his usual goal soon afterwards, Kevin Phillips taking over up front for the Foxes.

An Ebanks-Blake strike deflected wide on 85, winning Town only their second corner of the afternoon. Taylor flicked on Anderson’s flagkick but neither Ebanks-Blake nor Murphy could divert the ball goalwards.

Wasilewski should have made it 3-0 in the 87th minute but headed James’s cross from the left over from virtually under the bar.

However, the Foxes didn’t have to wait too long for a third goal. James played in sub Chris Wood, who beat the advancing Gerken.

In injury time Taylor curled a 25-yard freekick wide, but there was no way back for the Blues and referee Linington’s final whistle confirmed Town’s heaviest defeat of the season.

While Leicester’s two goals were rather gifted to them by poor defending, the Foxes were much the superior side and a home win never really looked in question from the opening minutes.

Town were better after the break than they had been during the first half, however, the game was all but over by that stage with Wood’s third goal adding a late gloss.

Today’s results see the Blues drop to 10th but still five points from the play-offs with sixth-placed reading losing at home to Blackburn.

Leicester: Schmeichel, De Laet, Wasilewski, Morgan (c), Schlupp, Knockaert, James, Drinkwater, Dyer (Mahrez 64), Nugent (Phillips 84), Vardy (Wood 71). Unused: Hammond, King, Moore, Logan.

Town: Gerken, Chambers, Berra, Smith, Cresswell, Green, Skuse, Tabb (Anderson 61), Hunt (Taylor 75), Murphy, Nouble (Ebanks-Blake 66). Unused: Loach, Mings, Richardson, Wordsworth. Referee: James Linington (Newport, Isle of Wight). Att: 28,078 (Town: 1,212).

Photo: Action Images

coyb99 added 18:02 - Feb 22 No Mcgoldrick = no goals. He is our best player, and we have no strikers in our squad that can fit in for mcgoldrick that well. Leicester are top of the league... and will be in the premiership next season. Did we, and the players really expect a win? However, look where we are now, and where we were last year. Imagine paul jewell as manager in this game. We would have conceded a lot more. I think however badly we are playing etc, and 'mick out' are ridiculous claims. We are 10th in the league. Honestly, did we really think we would be in the play offs come the end of the season? We're not going to get promoted or relegated, so lets really get behind the team. Stop these stupid claims, and lets beat Birmingham next week!

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blueboy1981 added 18:03 - Feb 22 Keanish ..... agreed, maybe with the exception of EB starting ,may still be a couple of games too early for him. As for fans 'knowing / not knowing the game' some have never remotely been involved in the game, other than from watching - and it shows from some of their comments. So, I guess that has to be factored in accordingly.
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Cheshire_Blue added 18:05 - Feb 22 All so predictable. Come on Mr Evans, back the manager now you have a decent one.
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alexsmith111 added 18:07 - Feb 22 Leister are playing great. MM IS A GOD SEND. We were going to lose today. Not suprised, not annoyed. We should be beating teams below us at home and drawing with teams below us away. MM has done an outstanding job, nouble persistence aside!
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blueboy1981 added 18:08 - Feb 22 ...... doubt whether many (if any) local Sunday League Managers would have opted for the Nouble / Murphy partnership today - expecting success. No disrespect intended to local Sunday League Managers - who do a great job.
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Lightningboy added 18:09 - Feb 22 @blueboy1981 Totally agree with the Magilton comment. I only wish he & Burley were back here to put things right.
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Lord_Mac added 18:09 - Feb 22 Today was an object lesson in how to beat an inferior opponent - Leicester attacked from the off and the result was sorted well before half-time. Our play-off challenge has not stalled because of our inability to beat Leicester and QOR; it has stalled because we haven't been positive enough against middle and lower table sides agqinst whom we are good enough to do what Leicester did to us today. Clearly today, we were a better side when SEB, Taylor and Anderson were involved. So why not start with them and at least compete, rather than ask them to chase the game? If SEB cannot last 90 minutes, then substitute him when we are two up, not bring him on when we are two down. That said, talk of MM out is ridiculous and stupid. He got a 10/10 from me last year and an 8/10 this year. He and his team are by far the best option we have had in over a decade.

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thebeat added 18:13 - Feb 22 Keaneish you are one of the few people on here who always know what your talking about.Most of our dropped points this season have been down to crap team selection and the negative attitude Mick has. But as soon as you point it out your not a "real" fan apparently. Tabb,Nouble,Anderson and Green are all not good enough. Chambers gets exposed time and again at full back but Micks frightened to play a proper right back cus he might actually do some attacking. He needs to pick 2 of the 3 centre halves instead of trying to accomodate all 3. Cresswell was the best player in this league a while back but has been poor recently,hardly getting forward, is he being told not to attack too much? Why else has he suddenly stopped bombing on and being a real threat? Derby away - shocking 2nd half Barnsley, Charlton, Watford,Blackpool at home all points dropped due to negative team selection and tactics. Mick was the right man to keep us up and did a great job but i dont care what people say about having no money etc we should have more points so far this season but due to poor team selection and pure stubborness from Mick to not go for a win we have chucked loads away. The last time we played enterprising attacking football we stuffed Blackburn 3-1 with 2 attacking wingers. We should be playing like that more often and not qorrying about the opposition all the time

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Seasider added 18:14 - Feb 22 4 wins out of 15 is not play off form and if MM persists in playing Tabb and Nouble then lucky to finish higher than the 14th place of last season. Dont think we are in danger of relegation this year however but now back down in middle of table(10th),and this was heaviest defeat of season. MC Carthy makes a lot of team spirit but shouldnt think Scott Loach is feeling too chuffed tonight .Gerken didn't look too comfortable but wasn't really at fault with goals.His favorite 'Tabby' gave away the first,and the out of position Chambo should take some blame for the second,but Mick persists in playing him out of position whilst leaving Richardson on bench.Also Green on right was inert and not much better inside ,tiring noticeably towards end. Leicester are in a different class and it was men against boys,with son of Peter having a 'pipe and slippers'afternoon in Leicester goal,even after his team took their foot of gas. Everybody thought Taylor would be a better replacement for McGoldrick but when he was brought on played on left,even so still think he should start instead of Nouble against Brum as he can drop off and has more skill than big Frank;but then so have most players.Tabb doesn't deserve a start either and with a play off place looking further away than ever think MM should bring back our loanees and also give our fringe players hope by playing them a bit more especially Woody who like Paul Taylor has been excluded by this stubborn Yorkshireman.

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BlueSpark added 18:15 - Feb 22 If it carries on like this then I'll have to post my CV in for the Right wing position. We really need some wide men, so why isn't Anderson starting?
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thebeat added 18:18 - Feb 22 alexsmith11 how do you account for us not beating Charlton,Watford,Blackpool,Barnsley and Leeds at home then? And losing away to Millwall?
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h32 added 18:18 - Feb 22 Blueboy1981 - Agree with your Magilton comment, much better than many thought at the time and had much more to offer, after all he was still learning the trade. Shame he has not found his way back into the game at a reasonable level i.e. Championship. Very disappointed today, but not surprised to be honest, very much as expected after recent performances, tactics etc;
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NoelTheDub added 18:19 - Feb 22 Never going to win this game from the start but clearly Mick its time to listen to us moaners and start Richardson,Taylor, Anderson and SEB for the rest of this season and give the paying public what they deserve, entertainment .Stop the talk up of other teams and for once give our exciting players a look in.Its getting very frustrating your constant team choices and out of position tactics.Roll on next week I hope but not banking on Mick..

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corunnaviking1759 added 18:20 - Feb 22 Shocking, gifted them 2 goals and no shots at all on or even near target, live pop North and try to go to all Northern games not seen a good performance yet!!! Nouble, why did he play? Have nothing! Hunt, best player on the pitch, worked hard throughout and got subbed!! EB, looked hungry, why do he not start? Good job we had that run or we would be in trouble! McCarthy needs to up his game BIG TIME!

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Jimmy86 added 18:28 - Feb 22 Lets be realistic we lost to a better team, who are top of the league and are run away leaders at that. However i think we can now put our play off dreams to bed, as it's now very unlikely to happen, even though we still are only 5 points off 6th place. I am not anti Mick, He done hell of a job last season keeping us up bearing in mind the state we were left in by jewell and the position we were in. He made us compact, organised and hard to beat, so we only needed to score the odd goal to win a game, it worked a treat and it's fair to say it was prob needs must. However this season, whilst progression has clearly been made we needed to really kick on and play more attractive and expansive football, especially at home. This sadly has not been the case as the same negative tactics, that kept us up last season have been used this season and whilst it's still achieved results it is not pleasing on the eye to us, the supporters and wont help with bringing the dwindling crowds back, we want to be entertained, especially for the expensive match day tickets for non season ticket holders. luckily ive got a season ticket, coz id be hacked off having to pay 30 quid for last weeks home game against blackpool Today for me Mick got it totally wrong with his tactics and team selection. We went there not even remotely trying to win the game. Dropping Loach was disgusting, as he earnt the right to keep his place with is MOM display last weekend, Mick's mantra is perform well enough to keep your place, well Mick Loach sure did and you still dropped him. Green on the right, when we have natural wingers in Anderson and Edwards. Tabb in midfield, who is woefully out of form and Nouble up front, who is clearly not up to standard and is no way better than Taylor. Poor tactics and selection today, hope for better next weekend against Birmingham at home. My last point is, It was always going to be hard to break into the top 6 when our faceless owner hasn't remotely backed his manager, in the summer or in january, when we were in the top 6 at the turn of the year with any significant funds to buy 2 or 3 quality players to help with the final push. You cant make a silk purse out of a sows ear, I believe is the saying

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sirmichealmills added 18:32 - Feb 22 Hmm, does anyone remember when MM had all this Ireland stuff floating about, we had the headline " mick will have money in January " they said? Hand on heart I don't think he trusts/rates some individuals he's been given ( and got ) and with mr anonymous at the helm hiding behind FFP, I think if he wants another management job he'll have to walk next season anyway, as without SERIOUS investment in the squad were never going anywhere Either come out with a plan, or front up Marcus and say your not really interested anymore?

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Steve_D added 18:33 - Feb 22 What do you expect. We are a mediocre team and have hit the wall. , no player investment from M E who is quite happy to keep us in this division , being a mid table team in a good league rather than poor team in a top league .
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iamipswich added 18:33 - Feb 22 Why oh why is Jay Tabb starting for us?! McCarthy has some deluded idea that Tabby is good, he simply isn;t good enough and hasn't been since Reading away. Nouble? What's the point, I'm not saying he was the problem today but doesn't do enough in the games. GOT GOT GOT to play Taylor next week otherwise McCarthy will surely have some questions to answer should we fail to perform yet again. Green on the right seems pointless ahead of Anderson or even Taylor. SEB not fit enough to start but can still be effective from the bench and hopefully will be fit enough to start by March. Still very much in favour of having MM as manager but he seems to have favourites in the squad (Tabb and Nouble) when better options are available.

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footyblue added 18:35 - Feb 22 Bring back Hewitt get him playing and give us some balance
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JWM added 18:35 - Feb 22 LOL I see the usual Numpties are on here spouting their usual anti Mick Bile!
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essextractorboy93 added 18:40 - Feb 22 As expected there are some absolute clowns on here who want McCarthy out, I'm just glad you're not making the decisions at our club! Never really expected anything from today, Mick knows where our problems are and he is doing his best to solve them. Most of our fans talk sense but there are just a few idiots on here who don't seem to understand. What do you expect when Mick has only spent 25k on transfers?!! He performed miracles to keep us up last year and he is slowly but surely building a solid team which needs a few more additions in the summer to challenge for the play-offs. COYB!

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cossy81 added 18:41 - Feb 22 JWM,i am a tradesman,let me come round your house and do a crap,sub standard job like the team are currently doing but i expect you to pay me really well and not complain..ok
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blueboy1981 added 18:47 - Feb 22 sirmichealmills ........ not sure that funds / money is the real issue - there are teams / squads in the Championship performing nicely that have been put together on somewhat of a shoestring budget. Personally, I believe we have a reasonable squad IF players are played in their rightful and best position - this is clearly not happening. Surprisingly maybe - but many players just do not / cannot perform out of position - and we have suffered from that most of this latter part of this season. It is difficult therefore for these players to show their true worth / or not as the case maybe. Not at all sure that throwing money at MM would resolve the problem - and that may just be how ME see's it .... !!! - certainly after the previous debacles of a couple of his predecessor Managers !! I think I would be most cautious if I were ME - but what would be nice to know is if he really does care about our Club, and it's succesful / or otherwise future.

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thebeat added 18:47 - Feb 22 JWM and essextractorboy93 we understand theres been no money to spend but how does that explain playing a centre half at right back, a central midfielder on the wing when have 2 right wingers in the squad who are far better and more used to that role, and the consistent picking of Tabb and Nouble when everybody knows they shouldnt be anywhere near the side and we have far better options than them but he wont play them out of pure favouritism? I dont want Mick to go, i just want him to pick the team on merit and have some balls when it comes to tactics. You can keep it tight and still attack teams you know.

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tractorboybig added 18:52 - Feb 22 Fact: Ipswich are a poor average championship side are arn't going to finish any higher than last year. Accept the reality and all is well.
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