WIMBLEDON 2 LEICESTER CITY 1

Tony Cottee took Heskey`s place in the starting line up alongside Stan Collymore, but their partnership never really gelled and Cottee was substituted in the second half.

Neil Sullivan was missing from the Wimbledon side with a wrist injury but Paul Heald, his replacement in goal, was rarely troubled in the first half-hour as neither side created many openings, until Robbie Savage brought down Jason Euell in the box and Neil Ardley tucked the resulting penalty into the corner to give The Dons the lead in the 33rd minute.

It stayed that way until ten minutes after half-time when Gerry Taggart, looking suspiciously offside, controlled the ball in the box and lashed the equaliser past Heald.

Justice was done, however, with three minutes remaining as Carl Cort scored Wimbledon`s winner from close range after Marcus Gayle had flicked on Alan Kimble`s corner.

"It was very important today because we needed 3 points," said a relieved Egil Olsen. "I think we deserved it, Leicester play a similar game to what we do so there was a lot of fighting and aerial battles.

"I exaggerated a bit last week, because we played quite good football before we collapsed. Of course we realise we are in a relegation struggle, but we talked a lot this week and hopefully sorted it out."

Olsen added that there was no chance of Cort leaving the club this season.