Dickov dumps Blackburn

Rovers skipper Flitcroft (second left) kept his place

Leicester 2-1 Blackburn
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Paul Dickov scored twice as Leicester kept their faint survival hopes alive and left Blackburn deep in relegation trouble.

Dickov hit his first goal since his move from Manchester City in February to put the Foxes ahead after just nine minutes.

Mark Hughes hit back for Blackburn by heading home his first Premiership goal for two years just after the break.

  Key moments

9 mins: Paul Dickov fires Leicester ahead

37 mins: Craig Hignett hits the post

46 mins: Mark Hughes makes it 1-1

54 mins: Ian Walker saves from Lucas Neill

77 mins: Dickov hits Leicester's winner

But Dickov kept his cool to score a 77th-minute winner and end Leicester's dismal four-month run without a Premiership win.

Rovers boss Graeme Souness stuck by captain Garry Flitcroft, who had been exposed in the morning newspapers for his extra-marital affairs.

And the 2,000 travelling fans showed their support by chanting "there's only one Garry Flitcroft" and displaying a banner declaring "Flitcroft is our hero".

We're down but not out yet and at least I can enjoy a glass of wine

Foxes boss Dave Bassett

Leicester had an early penalty appeal turned down when Stig Inge Bjornebye appeared to push Brian Deane as the pair challenged for a high ball.

But Dickov fired them ahead, collecting Deane's flick-on and holding off the challenge of Nils Johansson to go round keeper Brad Friedel and score from a narrow angle.

Blackburn almost went two down but Matt Elliott had a header ruled out for a push on Lucas Neill.

Flitcroft and Savage collide

And the visitors' problems increased when Yordi was stretchered off with a facial injury after a collision with Jon Ashton.

Rovers played on for 10 minutes without him but the striker was eventually replaced by Craig Hignett, with Souness also bringing on Keith Gillespie for Bjornebye.

Hignett had the chance to crown his 500th career appearance with a goal after Foxes keeper Ian Walker had saved brilliantly from Hughes but his low shot hit the post.

Blackburn finally equalised just a minute after half-time when Elliott brought down Hughes on the angle of the penalty area.

For 15 minutes we were tortured by Paul Dickov and Brian Deane

Blackburn boss Graeme Souness

Hakan Unsal floated over an inswinging free-kick and Hughes rose unmarked to send a downward header past Walker.

Blackburn went in search of a winner but Gillespie cut his low cross behind Hughes after Tugay had put him through.

Hughes then volleyed over at the far post after Walker had parried a cross from Neill at full stretch.

But it was Leicester who produced the knockout blow as Robbie Savage put Dickov clean through and the striker made no mistake to slot home the winner.

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Leicester: Walker, Marshall, Elliott, Sinclair, Ashton (Rowett 65), Piper (Reeves 78), Savage, Oakes, Izzet, Dickov, Deane.
Subs Not Used: Flowers, Heath, Stevenson.

Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Johansson, Short, Bjornebye (Gillespie 33), Tugay, Hughes (Taylor 73), Flitcroft, Unsal, Yordi (Hignett 34), Jansen.
Subs Not Used: Miller, Berg.
Booked: Gillespie.

Att: 16,236

Ref: G Barber (Tring).