LONDON: David Nugent and Kasper Schmeichel were Leicester’s stars as the Foxes moved into second place in the Championship after beating promotion rivals Middlesbrough 1-0 on Friday.

Nigel Pearson’s side kicked off level on points with Middlesbrough in the race for automatic promotion to the Premier League, but Nugent’s goal and Schmeichel’s penalty save at the King Power Stadium ensured it was Leicester whoclimbed into second spot.

Heavy snow throughout the country delayed Middlesbrough’s arrival, forcing the kick-off to be put back by 15 minutes, and Tony Mowbray’s team were slow to get started.

Leicester enjoyed the better of the first half as Anthony Knockaert and Michael Keane hit the crossbar.

Former England striker Nugent got the winner in the 70th minute, lashing in a superb half-volley to take his goal tally for the season to 13.

Middlesbrough had a golden opportunity to snatch a draw in the last minute when substitute Jamie Vardy brought down Middlesbrough captain Rhys Williams in the penalty area, but Schmeichel, the son of former Manchester United star Peter, plunged to his left to save Marvin Emnes’s spot-kick.

Leicester are now one point clear of third placed Hull and three ahead of Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough.

“It feels great to be second in the league. The players applied themselves well,” Pearson said.

“In the second half we pushed the full-backs forward more and I think we had the better chances.”

Mowbray added: “I’m unbelievably disappointed. I thought we did enough not to lose the game. But we didn’t stick the ball in the back of the net and goals change games.” – AFP

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