Highlights: Birmingham City 1-2 Leicester City

Foxes Break Club Record!

Birmingham City 1 - 2 Leicester City

Leicester City won an 8th consecutive league game for the first time in the club's history at St. Andrew's tonight. It was a game of two halves and, in truth, the Foxes should have been out of sight before the interval. Indeed, City had 7 corners inside the first 20 minutes of the match and the pressure  had to tell. In the 24th minute, David Nugent played in Lloyd Dyer, who smashed home his 9th goal of the season to give Foxes the lead. If there was to be any criticism of Leicester tonight, it was that they didn't kill the game off until late into the second half - they certainly had plenty of opportunities in a game where they had 60% of the possession. 

Leicester were far less fluent in the second half and allowed Birmingham back into the match - it was a much more even contest. City looked like they had finally killed the game off in the 83rd minute when Riyad Mahrez found Vardy. The striker's right footed shot found the bottom left hand corner of the net. However, there was a late twist in the tale as Lovenkrands headed in Burke's cross in the final minute of the game. It made for a nervous four minutes of injury time but the Foxes held on to secure yet another victory. Importantly, Burnley only managed a draw in their home game against Brighton, meaning that Leicester have an 11 point lead over third place. It is a significant and perhaps even a decisive advantage. 

Highlights: Leicester City 2-0 Middlesbrough

Foxes in Seventh Heaven

Leicester City 2 - 0 Middlesborough

Second half goals from Jamie Vardy and Ritchie De Laet equalled a club record seventh consecutive league win for the Foxes against in-form Middlesborough this afternoon. Leicester now have as many league wins - 19 - as they managed in the whole of last season. With QPR and Burnley not in league action today, the victory also moves the Foxes eight points clear of the pack and onto an incredible 60 points. To put their form into context, you have to go back to the 2005-06 season to find the last time that a Championship team broke the 60 point barrier by the 27 game mark. That season, Reading racked up 106 points - the record at this level since the football league moved to 46 game seasons 23 years ago. It is a relentless and remarkable pace that Leicester are setting - one that other clubs are struggling to live with.

Today's match had promised much but failed to live up to expectations due to the horrendous playing conditions in the first half. Minutes before kick-off, an intense hail storm left the playing surface patchy in places and under water in others. Both sides struggled to adapt and there were few scoring opportunities in the first half. Sadly, the only incident of note was a nasty injury to Liam Moore very early in the game. He slid in at the far past to try and connect with an Anthony Knockaert free-kick and collided with the post. Minutes later he was substituted and went to hospital for an X-ray on suspected broken ribs. That would be a huge blow to the Foxes - with Miguel and St. Ledger both injured, and Whitbread on loan at Derby, City are short of defensive cover.

By the second half, the weather conditions had eased and much of the surface water had drained away. As a result, Leicester were increasingly able to impose their style of the play on their opponents. In the 53rd minute, new Middlesborough signing Daniel Ayala tried to see the ball out of play on his own goal line. David Nugent harried the defender, outmuscled him and squared the ball to Jamie Vardy, who fired the ball into the net with his right foot. Middlesborough were adamant that the ball had crossed the line and they may have had some justification - however, it was a poor decision from the defender given the state of the pitch and he should have made sure. In the 71st minute, Rhys Williams brought down the waspish Jamie Vardy to give City yet another penalty. However, Nugent's effort was poor and the goalkeeper pushed the ball away. 

Fortunately, the miss wasn't to cost the hosts as, just two minutes later, City struck again. Vardy, who is emerging as a leading candidate for player of the season, chased another lost cause into the corner. A cynical shove off the ball from Williams sent Vardy tumbling into the advertising hoardings. From the resulting free kick, De Laet headed home at the far post and the points were secure. Mahrez and Phillips both made cameo appearances late on and the Algerian wide player almost scored, forcing a good save from Shay Given. Leicester travel to Birmingham on Tuesday night looking for a club record eighth consecutive league win - few would bet against them. If they manage it, they will have a 12 point cushion over third place with just 18 games of the season remaining. Dare to dream?

Burnley Match Live on Sky

Leicester's Championship fixture at promotion rivals Burnley has been selected for live television coverage. The match, scheduled for Saturday 29th March, will now kick-off at 12:15 pm.

Highlights: Leeds United 0-1 Leicester City

Nugent Nicks Late Winner

Leeds Utd 0 - 1 Leicester City

Leicester survived an impressive onslaught from Leeds Utd at Elland Road this afternoon, to steal all three points with a late David Nugent goal. The victory, City's sixth consecutive league win, seemed unlikely after a first half in which Leeds should have been three or four goals up. Ross McCormack's sixth minute header, which rebounded off the post, set the tone for the first period of play. McCormack's clever chip over Schmeichel was headed off the line just a few minutes later and the Leeds striker almost curled a follow-up shot into the bottom corner. Varney then headed over from close range and it could have been 3-0 to Leeds inside 10 minutes. City's best chance of the first half came when Jamie Vardy's right footed shot struck the post early on.

Manager Nigel Pearson would have been pleased to get his side into the dressing room at the break with the score at 0-0. In truth, City improved as the match went on and displayed more control and composure in the second half. Debutant Kevin Phillips entered the fray with less than 20 minutes remaining and made a telling contribution. With just a few minutes left on the clock, Liam Moore crossed from the right flank and Phillips dummied the ball. It fell to Nugent, who flicked the ball towards goal. Nugent was the first to react to a fortunate rebound, poking the ball into the back of the net. It was a huge result for the Foxes, particularly as they withstood so much pressure from the home side and managed to ride their considerable luck. 

Leicester now have as many points on the road as they managed in the whole of last season. They also have 18 league victories, one short of last season's tally. The pace that the Foxes are setting is relentless and it is hard to imagine that, if City maintain their form, both QPR and Burnley will be able to sustain their challenge for automatic promotion. Indeed, Burnley dropped points this afternoon and face QPR on 1st Feb. QPR's match against Sheffield Wednesday next week has been postponed due to the fourth round of the FA Cup. The lead over third place currently stands at six points for Leicester, they will be hoping to extend it further over the next few weeks. With their next 4 games against the teams in 13th, 17th, 16th and 15th respectively, this is the time for the Foxes to open up a commanding lead over their opponents. Things are looking up.

Kevin Phillips Signs

Veteran striker Kevin Phillips has signed for Leicester City on a short-term deal until the end of the season. The 40 year old joins as a free agent after leaving Crystal Palace earlier this term. In a career that has spanned 20 years, Phillips has achieved 4 promotions to the Premier League with Sunderland, West Brom, Birmingham and Crystal Palace. With over 650 appearances and 285 goals, Phillips brings a vast amount of experience to the squad at a critical time of the season. The most interesting aspect of Phillips' time at Leicester will be what happens at the end of the current campaign, with many City fans tipping him to join the coaching setup. Manager Nigel Pearson was, of course, a centre back and assistant manager Craig Shakespeare was a midfield player. It may well be that they have identified the need for an experienced striker to join their coaching team - Phillips certainly fits that bill.

Highlights: Leicester City 4-1 Derby County

Mahrez Joins Foxes

Leicester have completed the signing of Riyad Mahrez from French League Two side Le Havre. The 22 year old Algerian wide player joins for an undisclosed fee and has been allocated the number 26 shirt. He has made 20 appearances for Le Havre this season, scoring 6 goals and with 5 assists. City fans will hope that Mahrez proves to be as exciting a prospect as Knockaert, the last player that the Foxes plucked from the French leagues. It will certainly be interesting to see where he fits into Leicester's plans. 

It will obviously take the player a while to adjust to Championship football and one might expect to see him making substitute appearances in the first couple of weeks. Opposition full-backs will not relish seeing a pacey winger enter the fray after an hour up against Dyer or Knockaert. In the longer term, it will be interesting to see if Pearson can find room for Mahrez, Dyer and Knockaert in his starting eleven, particularly at home. It is currently fashionable for teams to play 4-2-3-1. Perhaps with Drinkwater and James sitting in front of the back four and Knockaert playing in behind a lone striker, there is room for Dyer and Mahrez as well. If Mahrez proves to be as exciting a player as we are lead to believe, the prospect of seeing all 3 of them play together is a mouth watering one for City fans. 

Leicester Ram Home Advantage

Leicester City 4 - 1 Derby County

Leicester thrashed Derby County at the King Power Stadium this evening to move 7 points clear at the top of the Championship table. It was an irresistible performance from the Foxes, who managed a staggering 25 attempts at goal, 8 of which were on target. Without doubt, it was Leicester's most complete performance of the season to date and sends out an emphatic message to the rest of the league - catching Leicester City this season is going to be no mean feat. The link-up play between Nugent and Vardy was superb and Derby were simply unable to cope with the speed, frequency and quality of Leicester's attacking play. Perhaps the only surprise of the evening was that Leicester only found the net on 4 occasions.

James should have given the Foxes the lead in the 12th minute, missing an open goal from 12 yards after excellent work down the left flank. Dyer hit a fierce shot and the goalkeeper's save fell into the path of James, who was unable to finish. Nugent forced another save from the Derby keeper mid-way through the first half, firing a good left footed shot towards the bottom corner. City's relentless pressure told in the 25th minute. De Leat received the ball on the half way line, dribbled towards the goal and played a neat one-two with Nugent. He received the ball back on the edge of the box and fired a clinical shot into the bottom corner with his left foot. It was a fabulous individual goal.

In the 34th minute, Vardy's shot from an acute angle rattled the crossbar after brilliant play from Leicester's front two. Nugent flicked on a clearance, Vardy back heeled into Nugent's path and Nugent forced a save from the keeper. The rebound fell into Vardy's path but it was an almost impossible angle. Just two minutes later, Leicester hit the bar again. This time, Moore's thundering header from a corner rattled the upright. City's second goal eventually arrived two minutes into the second half. Vardy twisted in the box to turn Schmeichel's clearance towards the penalty spot and David Nugent was there to knock the ball in with the help of a fortunate ricochet - it was no more than the Foxes deserved. 

Derby were briefly back in the game before the hour mark, a corner from the right flicked off De Laet and found its way into the net. However, within 20 seconds of the restart, the superb Vardy had won City a penalty, running around the outside of the defender and being brought down in the box. Nugent's penalty was emphatic - side footed to the goalkeeper's left. A few minutes later, Leicester put the icing on the cake with Jamie Vardy's goal to make the score 4-1. In my view, Vardy was man of the match and it was by far his best performance in a City shirt. Nugent won the ball in the middle of the park and played a super ball into Vardy, who took one touch and hammered the ball past the goalkeeper with his right foot. 

It was an incredible, relentless performance from City and one that underlines their promotion credentials. Surely, this is their year...

Promotion Push is Pearson's Priority

Stoke City 2 - 1 Leicester City

Phrases such as "now we can concentrate on the league" and "we don't need the distraction of the FA Cup" are excuses trotted out by many a football supporter after a defeat in the world's most prestigious Cup competition. In Leicester City's case today, they were being used before kick off at the Britannia Stadium. That didn't deter over 4000 Leicester supporters from making the short journey to Stoke, even though they knew that manager Nigel Pearson was likely to field a weakened side. Morgan, Moore, Dyer, Drinkwater and Nugent were all left out of the starting line-up - a clear indication as to where City's priorities lie this season. However, a front three with the pace of Vardy, Schlupp and Knockaert offered some cause for optimism, particularly with Knockaert playing in behind the front two, a role that many City fans feel could be his best position.

Leicester fell behind in just the 16th minute, Kenwyne Jones heading home Assaidi's cross. Uncharacteristically, Leicester failed to create any meaningful opportunities during the first half. Had progression in this competition been a priority, Nigel Pearson would probably have changed some personnel at half-time. He didn't and ten minutes after the break, Charlie Adam was given too much room and fired a left footed shot home from 25 yards to double the hosts' advantage. Dyer and Nugent did enter the fray in the 68th minute and made a positive impact, Nugent heading in Wasilewski's cross in the 77th minute. An equaliser and subsequent replay looked a real possibility at that stage. The fact that it didn't materialise may well be a blessing in disguise for the Foxes and their push for automatic promotion.

Next up is the visit of East Midlands rivals and fellow promotion candidates Derby County in front of the Sky cameras on Friday night. Most City fans will recognise that game as far more important than today's. Dispatch Derby County and today's result will be a distant memory. Don't be surprised if there is movement in the transfer market during the next week, with 40 year old striker Kevin Phillips rumoured to be on the verge of joining Leicester. Meanwhile Zak Whitbread's loan at Derby has been extended until the end of the season and midfielder Neil Danns has re-joined Bolton until the summer, at which point his contract with Leicester City will have expired. Danns, signed by Sven Goran-Eriksson, was one of the club's highest earners. His departure not only helps the club to meet the demands of Financial Fair Play but may also pave the way for new arrivals at the King Power Stadium.

Foxes Victorious in the Lions' Den

Millwall 1 - 3 Leicester City

Having won three successive league games before today, Leicester fans could have been forgiven for being a little nervous when today's team news was announced. Miquel, Wasilewski, Hammond, King and Taylor-Fletcher all came in, with only one of these changes forced as a result of Vardy's suspension. Add to this Leicester's poor record at the New Den in recent years and it is fair to say that many fans felt that a draw would have been a good result. How satisfying then that City won their 7th away league game of the season (one more than they managed in the whole of last term) and maintained their four point lead at the top of the Championship table. These are the kind of matches that, with a hostile crowd and difficult playing conditions, will define Leicester's season.

The game could hardly have started better for the Foxes. In the sixth minute, Knockaert seized on a loose ball, dribbled to the edge of the box and fired a left footed shot into the bottom corner of the net. For the remainder of the first half, Millwall dominated possession but the Foxes restricted them to shots from distance, which Schmeichel was more than equal to. Early in the second half, Nugent doubled Leicester's advantage. Taylor-Fletcher broke the offside trap to close in on goal, but a poor touch from the former Blackpool striker forced him wide of the goal. Fortunately, he still had the presence of mind to clip a left footed cross to Nugent, who headed home the easiest of chances from two yards - his 13th goal of the season.

At that point, it seemed as though the Foxes would have an easy end to their afternoon. However, Millwall's Chaplow scrambled in a scrappy goal in the 68th minute to give the Foxes a nervous finale. In injury time, substitute Jeff Schlupp put the result beyond doubt. A superb pass from Knockaert played Schlupp in on goal and the German born striker finished in composed fashion, sliding the ball through the goalkeeper's legs with his weaker right foot. It completed a 3-1 victory - the perfect start to 2014. With 22 matches remaining, City need 12 victories and 5 draws to reach 92 points. That tally would have secured promotion to the Premier League in each of the last 15 seasons. Surely, it is within Leicester's grasp this season?