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

BillBlue added 20:57 - Feb 23 Craig, I am sorry mate but you have got me a bit confused. You say on the one hand you think MM is doing an OK job but then you mention Marriott and then Nouble. You then say the team is not good enough for this league. Well the Marriott/Nouble issues are management issues and this is MM's team so in my opinion and in yours from what you say this is bad management. Further, there is no doubt (see the figures) our defence is not so good this year as last, this again is a bad management decision made by splitting the excellent central defensive partnership we had and playing one of those people out of position as a left back so it cannot be the best you have seen for years. I do agree with you wholeheartedly about the terrible state the game is in but this is mostly down to Sky and I do also gree with you about Evans.

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wessextractorboy added 21:08 - Feb 23 I have just watched the 2000 play off semi at Portman road against Bolton and the final against Barnsley. The fans were top notch and you could see how much the players wanted it. We do not have the likes of Reuser, Magilton. Clapham and Richard wright. That 2000 team under Burley would wipe the floor with the likes of Leicester. Maybe the current team need to sit down and watch what I have just watched.

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oldegold added 21:09 - Feb 23 JWM seems to forget that the whole point of the posting is to exchange comments. If he has to call Town supporters idiots then clearly he has some mental issues. Whilst I am not looking for MM to leave at the moment, it's true that football-wise we are playing a sterile, boring, dull and defense mnded soccer with no initiative at all. No young players are coming through at all or not being given a chance. Much better ageing Wolves rejects, no ? Yes, that's the way to the future. I saw a film tonight of our play off victory against the Bolton hooligans in May 2000 - crikey, talk about passion and attack minded soccer. Where has the Ipswich way of playing football gone? Bobby Robson must be turning now watching this mediocre rubbish..

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JWM added 21:29 - Feb 23 Oldegold I have mental issues for being fully supportive of our manager and players? That's a good one! Mick has been here for 18 months and has turned this club around but of course anyone could have done that couldn't they! We have had a few bad results just lately which is hardly surprising for a mid table team. I think some of you really need to get a grip on reality. If Mick leaves it will mean even more turmoil, more new players to bed in, new coaching staff and just who the hell will want to come here in the first place? It may surprise you to know but football has moved on during the last decade and we are not the most attractive proposition for managers these days. This thing about getting a young manager with fresh ideas is all very well but there aren't many worth having and the ones that are doing well wouldn't consider us as an upward move! To all those that want Mick out then fine but just be careful for what you wish for!

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blueboy1981 added 21:31 - Feb 23 JWM ....... I have my own ideas as to who 'should get a life' - or at least, to wake up would be something. Another post without the need to be insulting to other supporters of our Club - take note.
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CraigCM added 22:07 - Feb 23 Bluebill, Yeah I know I got distracted while typing so much haha. What I mean is the team isn't good enough for Premier League, no matter where we are sitting. But I don't want to keep swapping managers because of lack of talent in the squad. But if he keeps trying to sign bloody wolves players/ex players. then he should go... I get tired of the managers getting old talent in, instead of new ones. He would be just doing what Jewell did... If I was manager i'd be looking for talent in up coming stars. But Yeah Evans in my opinion is running a business instead of a football club. And would it hurt to get some other players that aren't from Ireland lol. We let so many talents slip through our fingers cause they didn't get the opportunity. Rhodes just says it all. Although I would love to be in the Premier league, I just think it would be painful to see us struggle. ME would need to give millions to get decent players. But the man wouldn't fork out 10 million let alone 100 million

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superkevinwilson added 22:54 - Feb 23 Did,nt go to game on Saturday so cant really comment. But go to every home game as have season ticket. Mick has steadied the ship after the last two donkeys and made us a safe team in this league, but by doing this he has made us a boring team. Now with a third of a season left we will not get relegated and we will not go up so i think its time to try a few things and take a couple of risks. Take the sqaures out of the round holes and put people in there right places like mick did with Carlos when he first arrived. Lets try Jack in the first team, give Taylor ago if his no good then get rid in summer.

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warkonthewildside added 23:11 - Feb 23 Frank Nouble has scored 3 goals in 28 appearances, says it all really!!! I'm afraid he doesn't deserve to start. Bring back Jack Marriott for a go for the rest of the season, he can't do any worse can he?
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runningout added 00:47 - Feb 24 Don't agree that Marriott should return yet... Nouble is Runningout of chances now.. I for one thought Taylor would do better when fit, but I'm wrong... Even though it was the team at the top of this league Saturday, it was a winnable game blown again...
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blueherts added 09:43 - Feb 24 The voices of reasoned argument . If you measure progress by league positions then YES we are far better off under MM/TC If you measure return on investment then YES we are far better off under MM/TC Comapring a 'one off ' Play off semi final - win at all costs game vs a League game - apples and oranges - I was at that game - probably the best game I have seen for atmosphere and drama - Alas we ruined that atmosphere by developing a ground which rarely has been filled and was the beginning of a darker era . Administration ( remember those days ?!) Yes - MM does seem to be making some strange selection choices but remember this is a team that HE has taken from Bottom to 6th over 15 mths Yes form has dipped and YES we were poor on Saturday and recent weeks BUT WE ARE NOT BOTTOM THREE ! The effect of losing 'Dids' is huge on this team - he was our go to man Of course MM is not perfect - show me a manager who is after 15 months in a job ?with NO money to splash His teams at Wolves with Jarvis , Vokes etc - players he got from lower leagues and played with width and flair ( with SEB ) - but he did spend money I believe he is using this season as a building block for next season So , to all the 'FIFA experts' out there who say MM out - give me an overview of all the managerial candidates you see as coming in , with no money to spend and how they are going to do it ? I look forward to it ?

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JWM added 12:37 - Feb 24 Great post Blueherts but the thing is that you know none of the "Mick Outers" will respond to your ending questions because they dont really have a clue! Wanting Mick Out is just them clutching at straws as usual.
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oldegold added 14:27 - Feb 24 Once again JWM has revealed his usual natural fluency with the English language and shown, despite repeated warnings, that he can't express an idea without offending fellow Town supporters and probably has some mental issues. Other people besides himself do have a clue what they're talking about but don't resort to insulting people. He can't accept that other Town supporters have a different opinion to his and why not ? We're not clutching at straws ( whatever he means by that, poor deluded person ) but are voicing an opinion on what we think is best for our team that we love. And I am responding to your questions, bright spark that you are. Careful with that axe, Eugene...

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JWM added 18:37 - Feb 24 Once again you have taken what I have said out of context Oldegold I'm not sure if this is unintentional or just by design. Do you have a clue who you want to replace Mick as manager?
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oldegold added 22:32 - Feb 24 Come on JWM..we're all fighting the same cause here. I never said I wanted MM out. I still cling to the old Ipswich ideal of us not being a sacking club.I was brought up the Ipswich way under Sir Bobby Robson. We all want what's best for the club and what I remarked upon was how boring and insipid our play has become. Whilst I acknowledge that he got us out of trouble last season, we are now seeing the limits to his philosophy. We are also-rans whereas before we were protagonists. If MM were to leave i would go for the Mills/Burley tandem. I wanted george in when Jewell left but I back our present incumbent but we have to improve on all fronts.

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