Town battled their way to a 2-1 win over Leicester in atrocious conditions at Portman Road. Strong winds and rain throughout made things difficult but the Blues were two ahead inside 25 minutes through Shefki Kuqi and a Mark De Vries own goal. Jordan Stewart netted a freekick late on for the Foxes.

The Blues were unchanged from the side which beat Sheffield United 2-0 last Saturday. Leicester fielded both former Town men, James Scowcroft receiving a warm welcome but Chris Makin being booed throughout after his summer walkout on the club.

Town went ahead in the second minute. Jim Magilton's deep freekick from the right was volleyed goalwards by Darren Currie, Ian Walker tipping the ball wide. From the resulting corner, an unmarked Shefki Kuqi stooped to head Magilton's kick into the net.

The game couldn't have started any better for the Blues with the goal likely to have forced Leicester into a more attacking approach than they might otherwise have employed.

Foxes' striker David Connolly might have put his side back on terms twice just before the 10-minute mark. First he hit a 20-yard shot which Kelvin Davis did well to save and gather at the second attempt ahead of De Vries.

Soon after, the former Wimbledon man's strike from a tight angle on the left was saved by his former team-mate Davis, Richard Naylor this time preventing De Vries from getting on to the loose ball.

Town were enjoying most of the possession at this stage of the game but Leicester were having the better chances. On 16, Keith Gillespie hit a shot well over from the 18-yard line after Connolly had laid the ball back to him. The same player failed to test Davis with a freekick seven minutes later, the Town keeper claiming comfortably.

The Blues went further in front in the 24th minute. Tommy Miller had driven a loose ball towards the corner of the net from 20 yards, Ian Walker pushing it round the post.

Darren Currie whipped the left-wing corner in under the bar and Mark De Vries miskicked into his own net, Richard Naylor following up to make sure. The Town players celebrated with Currie, the recent signing's deadball delivery once again paying dividends.

Just before the half hour, David Unsworth got his name in the book for a foul on Keith Gillespie. Stephen Hughes became the first Leicester player to be cautioned in the 32nd minute when he fouled Tommy Miller. From the freekick, Darren Currie hit a 40-yarder which was easy for Walker.

Kelvin Davis pulled off another fine save in the 36th minute when Hughes crossed into the box for De Vries. The former Hearts man knocked the ball down to Connolly but Davis was out very quickly to block.

James Scowcroft was close to a goal two minutes later, the former Blue, playing at left midfield, arriving at the far post but heading Gillespie's right-wing freekick just wide of the post. Leicester had another chance from a subsequent Gillespie freekick on the same flank, but Dion Dublin headed straight at Davis.

There was a blow for the Blues in the 43rd minute when Shefki Kuqi was forced from the field on a stretcher. The Finn stayed on the floor when challenging for a ball with Dion Dublin and looked to be in a lot of pain. Kevin Horlock came on soon after and Darren Currie went into a more attacking role after the break.

As the first half came to an end, Davis again showed himself to be on top form when he blocked De Vries's lob, the Frenchman having seized on a weak back pass from Richard Naylor.

Davis had been the star of the half, making a number of good saves in a Town display not unlike that at Sheffield United last week. Without ever really hitting top gear, the Blues had scored their goals, while repelling the opposition's efforts at the other end.

Leicester had the first decent chance of the second period, Scowcroft's shot deflecting into the path of De Vries but his shot flying wide.

There was another injury scare for the Blues in the 58th minute, Gillespie crossing from the right and Davis colliding with Scowcroft at the far post. Unbeknownst to the players involved, the linesman's flag had been raised before the clash but Davis needed treatment before continuing.

On the hour, Fabian Wilnis sent a fine ball down the right for Darren Bent. The England U21 crossed towards Ian Westlake, the midfielder just failing to get a touch and Chris Makin putting out for a corner at the far post.

Once again Currie's set-piece caused danger in the Leicester penalty area, Richard Naylor getting above everyone else to head over the bar.

On 63, Makin was replaced with Richard Stearman, boos following him all the way to the bench.

A minute later, Kevin Horlock made a late and very much required challenge as De Vries ran in on goal on the Leicester right, the Blues midfielder needing treatment after the clash. The corner eventually led to a goalmouth scramble but the ball was cleared down field.

David Unsworth hit a freekick through a Leicester wall in the 66th minute, the ball cleared for a corner before a Town player could get on to it.

Darren Bent won the ball from a hesitant Nikos Dabizas not long after, the striker laying the ball back to Tommy Miller who lashed the ball wildly over the bar when he ought to have done better. Dabizas felt he had been fouled and was booked for protesting.

Bent was sent through by Currie in the 69th minute, the frontman cutting in from the right and hitting a shot which was deflected wide with David Unsworth in the clear to his left and screaming for the ball. James Scowcroft was withdrawn shortly afterwards to applause from the Town support and one or two calls for Town to "sign him up".

Dion Dublin became the third Leicester player to be shown the yellow card when he fouled Darren Bent on halfway in the 76th minute.

Leicester had enjoyed much more of the ball in the second half with the Blues content to sit back and try to hit them on the break. Chances had been far and few between for the visitors, their main approach being an aerial assault, and Jordan Stewart's 40-yard effort wide smacked of a bit of desperation.

As the game moved into the final 10 minutes, Bent and Westlake combined well but the striker's low pass to the midfielder was just too close to Walker and the former Town loanee claimed the ball.

Leicester made the last nine minutes nervy for Town fans when Jordan Stewart scored from a 20-yard freekick on the right, the ball going in off the underside of the bar, David Unsworth having fouled Keith Gillespie.

Bent struck a low shot wide and was then found by an excellent Jim Magilton ball. The 21-year-old took the ball into the area and shot over with Darren Currie arriving just to his right and calling for the ball.

As the game entered injury time Danny Karbassiyoon replaced Jim Magilton. Leicester continued to press, sending a lot of balls into the box, although their best chance came when Gillespie shot from a tight angle on the right, Davis saving and then grabbing the ball at the second attempt.

Not a vintage display by the Blues but the kind of battling displayed that's required against physical sides like Leicester and last week's opponents Sheffield United. A very similar performance to the game at Bramall Lane, with the Blues taking their chances before sitting back and soaking up pressure.

In both games Kelvin Davis has made a number of good saves, perhaps the pick of them a block from David Connolly in the first half when he ought to have had no chance.

Three more points, although Sunderland and Wigan both winning their games means that the Blues remain five points ahead at the top of the Championship with a tricky away game at Preston next week.

Town: Davis, Wilnis, Unsworth, De Vos, Naylor, Magilton (Karbassiyoon 90), Miller, Westlake, Currie, Bent, Kuqi (Horlock 45). Unused: Price, Bowditch, Richards. Att: 27,392.

Photo: Action Images

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