Boro bury wretched Leicester

Paul Ince was an inspiration for Middlesborough

Leicester 0-3 Middlesborough

Middlesbrough lifted many of their relegation concerns with a fighting display against the less-than-cunning Foxes.

Their 3-0 victory, capped by a memorable chipped goal from Alen Boksic, was apt revenge for the 3-0 loss they suffered to Leicester at the Riverside Stadium.

Boksic's exquisite chip came in between hard-won goals from Hamilton Ricard and Paul Ince.

Leicester had their own chances to score but conceded too much possession as they slumped to their seventh consecutive league defeat, an undesirable club record.

Boksic scored a wonderful goal

The visitors, playing with purpose befitting their league plight, strode forward, their intent typified by a brave run by Paul Ince that won his team an early corner.

It was taken short and the ball whipped in by Dean Gordon.

Ricard climbed well to nod home from point black range for the opening goal.

Of course it is a big test for me after losing so many games on the spin but we have got to stick together

  Peter Taylor

Only ten minutes had passed, but Leicester had chances to hit back immediately.

Ade Akinbiyi took advantage of a slip by Ugo Ehiogu and the resultant corner should have been converted by Junior Lewis, who instead headed wide.

Moments later, Steve Guppy saw his shot blocked by an unsighted and fortunate Ince.

At the other end, a quick break led by Boksic and Christian Karembeu fed Gordon, who fired disappointingly wide.

The game was fast-paced and full of incident.

On the half-hour mark, Robbie Savage was perhaps fortunate to escape with a caution when he lashed out at Dean Windass.

His aggression appeared to galvanise Leicester's spirit.

More despair for Peter Taylor

They pushed on, winning a succession of corners, and creating a gilt-edged but spurned opportunity for Gerry Taggart.

An even better chance fell to Akinbiyi.

Damien Delaney - making his Premiership debut - struck a fierce shot against the bar and the rebound fell to the Leicester striker, who missed the target with Middlesboro keeper Mark Schwarzer stranded.

Soon after the break, Boksic asserted his class and made the home team pay for their profligacy.

Robbing Taggart, he swept forward, checked his run, before lobbing Royce with a perfectly-weighted chip from the edge of the box.

The two goal lead soon became three.

The inspirational Ince seized on a loose ball from a Boro corner.

Without a second thought, he powered home from the edge of the box to put Boro firmly in charge.

We still need another victory to make sure we are safe

  Bryan Robson

Akinbiyi had another headed chance, this time after some good work from Andy Impey down the right flank.

But with only twenty minutes remaining, there was no time for near-misses.

Leicester did go close again in the dying stages, but took nothing from the game and will now take nothing from a season that started so promisingly.

Travelling Boro fans were jubilant at the end. With Coventry losing and Man City only managing a draw, they look odds-on to stay up.

---

Leicester: Royce, Impey, Sinclair, Taggart, Rowett, Guppy, Lewis, Savage, Delaney, Sturridge, Akinbiyi. Subs: Flowers, Davidson, Benjamin, Gunnlaugsson, Marshall.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Gavin, Gordon, Ehiogu, Karembeu, Cooper, Okon, Ince, Windass, Boksic, Ricard. Subs: Crossley, Stamp, Mustoe, Whelan, Marinelli.

Referee: P Taylor (Cheshunt)