Foxes grind out vital win

Waghorn: Decisive goal

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Leicester City's play-off hopes received a huge boost as they condemned top-six rivals Cardiff to their fourth defeat in five matches with a 1-0 win at the Walkers Stadium.

Loan striker Martyn Waghorn scored the only goal of the game when he found the net after Lloyd Dyer's cross was flicked on by Andy King.

The Bluebirds had chances to take something from the match but could not convert and their squandered opportunities may prove costly come the end of the season.

Jay Bothroyd came closest to scoring for Dave Jones' side but Chris Weale pulled out a fine save to deny him late on.

Curiously, it was the first league meeting between the two clubs this season and Cardiff will not have to wait long for the chance to gain revenge with the reverse fixture in the Welsh capital scheduled for 30th March.

Changes

Leicester manager Nigel Pearson was forced to make one change from the defeat at Sheffield Wednesday after Wayne Brown suffered a hamstring injury in training.

Alex Bruce came into defence to make his full debut since moving to the Walkers Stadium on loan from Ipswich at the start of February.

Another loanee, Everton striker James Vaughan, started his first game for the Foxes on the bench.

Cardiff were boosted by the return from injury of Mark Kennedy, Stephen McPhail and Peter Whittingham as all three went straight back into the starting line-up.

Suspended striker Michael Chopra, Gabor Gyepes and Gavin Rae made way for the returning trio.

Dave Jones' side started brightly, with Ross McCormack seeing a goalbound shot blocked by Jack Hobbs before a Whittingham effort from the right side of the box narrowly missed the far post.

Quick reactions

Cardiff continued to threaten and it was somewhat against the run of play when Waghorn slotted in his eighth goal of the season.

Dyer produced a probing ball into the box and Waghorn tapped home after reacting first to King's flick-on.

Bruce was forced off through injury after 35 minutes with Nolberto Solano introduced in the unfamiliar position of right-back.

It was from that side that McCormack immediately threatened to level the scores, but the Peru international recovered to make a vital block.

Darcy Blake headed a Whittingham cross wide from six yards out at the start of the second half as Cardiff kept up the pressure.

Vaughan replaced Matt Oakley just after the hour mark to make his Leicester debut but it was the Foxes' man of the moment, Paul Gallagher who almost killed the game off in spectacular fashion.

Gallagher, the Championship player of the month for February after scoring four goals in seven games, narrowly missed the target with a brilliant 30-yard effort after 67 minutes.

Weale then did well to save Bothroyd's effort from 12 yards with seven minutes remaining to ensure his side kept all three points.