David Nugent scored his usual goal at Portman Road as Leicester came from a goal behind to beat the Blues 2-1 and inflict their first home defeat since January 2nd. Jason Scotland put the Blues deservedly in front in the 43rd minute but soon after Ben Marshall’s freekick went through both wall and Arran Lee-Barrett with Nugent heading in the winner in a second half dominated by the visitors.

Paul Jewell made four changes to the side which drew 1-1 at Derby on Saturday, handing Ryan Stevenson his first start with Josh Carson, Lee Bowyer and Jason Scotland also coming in for Andy Drury, Lee Martin, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Michael Chopra.

Stevenson lined-up in Martin’s usual role behind the lone striker, in this case Scotland, with Carson on the right of midfield and Bowyer in the centre.

The first penalty area action of the game came in the fifth minute when Scotland found Carson on the right after Smith’s pass out from the back but the Northern Irishman’s cross-shot was comfortably gathered by Kasper Schmeichel.

The Foxes keeper was again in action two minutes later, getting down to his right to save a not overly troubling Scotland shot from 20 yards.

Carson scuffed wide on 13 with the Blues having begun the game promisingly with Arran Lee-Barrett in the Town goal do far untroubled by Leicester striker David Nugent, a scorer in each of his previous games at Portman Road, a record of six goals in five games.

Schmeichel was forced into the best save of the game in 16th minute after a well-worked freekick involving Aaron Cresswell, Bowyer and Leadbitter had led to the latter hitting a low strike which the visiting keeper did well to tip round his post to his right.

On 18 Jermaine Beckford lobbed Leicester’s first effort of the afternoon over the bar having chased his own flick from Paul Konchesky’s ball over the top. At the other end, Scotland lashed over from the edge of the area when he might have found Stevenson in space inside the area.

Daryl Murphy made a twinkle-toed break down the Blues left on 22 and sent in a cross which centre-half Sol Bamba put behind ahead of Carson as the Town midfielder broke into the box.

Beckford shot across the face of goal on 27 after the Blues had failed to clear on the left with Lloyd Dyer unable to reach the loose ball before it went out of play.

However, the Blues were still largely on top and a minute later Scotland had a chance to put his side in front. Stevenson received the ball from a quick Lee-Barrett throw and found Carson, who in turn fed Scotland but as the Trinidadian broke into the area, Konchesky made a fine challenge. The loose ball fell to Carson, whose effort was blocked.

Within a minute, the Blues threatened again, Scotland finding Stevenson but the Scot shot over when he probably should have hit the target. Town continued to press and on the half hour former Fox Damien Delaney looped over when seizing on a loose ball in the area after a long throw from the right.

Leicester were presenting the occasional threat on the break and on 33 Danny Drinkwater sent Beckford away in space into the Town area but the former Everton man shot weakly to Lee-Barrett.

The Foxes threatened again on 35, Konchesky cutting in from the left and finding Nugent but Lee-Barrett was equal to the ex-Portsmouth man’s shot, pushing it into the air and then claiming at the second attempt.

Cresswell shot wide after a corner was cleared, then Stevenson, impressing in his first full appearance for the Blues, hit a 30-yard strike which Schmeichel saved down to his right.

Town finally got the goal their first half display deserved in the 44th minute. A long spell of Blues passing ended with Bowyer finding Scotland on the 18-yard line and the Trinidadian rolling Bamba on the edge of the Foxes’ penalty area before hitting a low left-footed shot which beat Schmeichel to his right for his seventh goal of the season. The Danish keeper may feel he should have got down to it, although in his defence it came through a defender’s legs.

But Leicester got back on terms in first half injury time after Carson had been penalised for a foul on Ben Marshall 30 yards out. Marshall struck a powerful freekick which flew through the wall, through Lee-Barrett and into the net. The keeper will feel both he and his wall ought to have done much better.

Moments later, the whistle went to end the first half. On the balance of play, Town were worthy of the lead they had until Marshall’s strike.

The Blues had been in control for most of the half and had created a number of chances, Scotland using his strength to hold off Bamba before confidently beating Schmeichel.

As if to illustrate Town’s first half superiority, Leicester boss Nigel Pearson made two changes at the break, Paul Gallagher and Andy King replacing Dyer and Drinkwater.

The visitors began the second period strongly and weren’t far from going in front in the 49th minute when sub Gallagher crossed dangerously from the right. Blues skipper Edwards hammered the ball goalwards as he tried to intercept but fortunately hit Lee-Barrett, who claimed.

Town’s first chance of the new half came on 51 when Stevenson found Scotland on the right, the Trinidadian cutting in and hitting a shot which deflected over off Bamba. From the corner, Bowyer air-kicked at a volley on the edge of the box before Leadbitter curled over.

On 55 sub King was booked for diving after throwing himself to the ground as he ran past Lee-Barrett inside the area as he chased a Nugent pass after a poor kick from the Town keeper.

Lee-Barrett saved Lee Peltier’s header from a corner soon after, then on 58 blocked a Nugent strike to his left.

However, moments later, the Blues keeper couldn’t prevent the one-time England man from making it seven in six games at Portman Road and nine in 10 matches against the Blues in total. Gallagher crossed from the right and Nugent headed home from six yards to continue his record of scoring in each of his matches at Portman Road. Before the restart, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas replaced Carson.

The Foxes had been well on top since the restart and on 62 Gallagher saw a shot deflect wide, then from the corner Peltier headed straight to Lee-Barrett.

Martin took over from Stevenson, who had shown promise in his first start for the club he joined in January, as the Blues looked to get back on top.

Town gradually began threaten more, Martin’s 70th minute shot deflecting wide. From the corner, Scotland and the Sir Bobby Robson Stand were convinced the ball had struck a Leicester hand, but referee Tony Bates thought otherwise. Chopra replaced Murphy for the final 17 minutes with the Blues now in a more orthodox 4-4-2.

Leadbitter shot wide on 77 with Town having all the ball but without being able to find a way through the visitors’ backline. Two minutes later, Delaney scraped wide, the ball having fallen loose on the edge of the box after a Blues freekick.

Lee-Barrett was off his line quickly to clear ahead of Beckford as Leicester broke with the Blues committing men forward as they looked for an equaliser.

Beckford could have made it 3-1 on 84 when he tried to lift the ball over Lee-Barrett when well-placed inside the area, but the keeper was equal to it. Seconds later, the Leicester striker turned a long throw-in into the keeper’s arms when he again should have done better.

Town were being caught too easily at one end and weren’t particularly threatening at the other as the game entered its final five minutes.

Injury time followed the same pattern with a wayward Emmanuel-Thomas shot deep into the Sir Bobby Robson Stand the nearest the Blues would come to an equaliser.

It was once again a tale of two halves. Town were the better side before the break and would have gone in deservedly in front but for conceding what was a very soft goal from Marshall’s freekick.

The Foxes came out with all guns blazing in the second half having made their two substitutions and Town, as at Derby on Saturday and at Watford last month, never regained a grip on the match from there and Nugent’s inevitable goal was deserved when it came.

Town huffed and puffed after that but never really looked like getting back on terms with Leicester looking more likely to add to their lead on the break.

Blues boss Paul Jewell will be disappointed with the way his side let the Foxes into the game having been on top and ahead, the manner of the visitors’ first goal and also with his team’s increasingly common habit of fading after half-time.

Town: Lee-Barrett, Edwards (c), Smith, Delaney, Cresswell, Leadbitter, Bowyer, Stevenson (Martin 66), Carson (Emmanuel-Thomas 58), Murphy (Chopra 73), Scotland. Unused: Wright, Sonko.

Leicester: Schmeichel, Peltier, Bamba, Morgan, Konchesky, Marshall (Howard 79), Wellens (c), Drinkwater (King 46), Dyer (Gallagher 46), Nugent, Beckford. Unused: St Ledger, Schlupp. Referee: Tony Bates (Staffordshire). Att: 18,282 (Leicester: 839).

Story syndicated from TWTD.co.uk

Photo: Action Images

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