Resurgent Leicester continued to confound their critics with a 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough, their first home win since November.

Martin O'Neill's patched-up side once again used all their hardwork and commitment to scramble the points.

O 'Neill has been forced to cope with a host of injuries this season but even his powers of improvisation were tested by the absence of Emile Heskey and Tony Cottee.

Stand-in striker Matt Elliott, whose goal put Leicester in the Worthington Cup final, was partnered by midfielder Muzzy Izzet.

The partnership worked but Leicester, who earlier in the week their third final of the League Cup in four years, might not have found the net had it not been for some fairly hapless Boro defending.

A Keith O'Neill own-goal after 90 seconds made it 1-0 and Boro were two behind before the half was out when Mark Schwarzer allowed an Andy Impey strike to squirm through his grasp.

The gap was closed to a single goal in the 51st minute through Andy Campbell's splendid 25-yard volley but the Foxes held out to extend Boro's poor run to just one win in nine games.

"I still can't believe we have lost the game," said manager Bryan Robson.

"But we shot ourselves in the foot. We spoke before the game about the fact that Leicester had had a couple of hard cup-ties in the last week.

"But we conceded in the first minute and when you concede so early it always makes it a hard task.

"Martin O'Neill's sides are always going to be organised and that's what they were.

"They tired in the second half but when you give two goals away it's always going to make it hard.

"Even when we got back into the game we didn't look like scoring another - so it's disappointing."

Teams:

Leicester: Flowers, Sinclair, Taggart, Savage, Gilchrist, Impey, Izzet, Lennon, Oakes, Elliott, Eadie. Subs: Walsh, Gunnlaugsson, Campbell, Arphexad, Zagorakis.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Fleming, Festa, Pallister, Ziege, Cooper, Ince, O'Neill, Summerbell, Campbell, Juninho. Subs: Beresford, Maddison, Ricard, Armstrong, Gavin.

Referee: S Bennett (Orpington)