Championship: Leicester City 1 Middlesbrough 0

Leicester City climbed to second on the Championship table after a deserved 1-0 win over Middlesbrough on Friday.

Nigel Pearson’s side won their fifth game on the trot thanks to David Nugent’s second-half strike in wet and wintry conditions at the King Power Stadium.

Leicester were more threatening throughout the match, hitting the crossbar twice in the first half.

And they hit the woodwork twice – in the same play – just after the break as Middlesbrough continued to cling on.

It looked like it would not be Leicester’s night when Nugent had a goal ruled out for offside but with 20 minutes remaining they finally took the lead.

Frenchman Anthony Knockaert, one of the most impressive players in the Championship this season, played the ball to Nugent and he thrashed a superb strike past Middlesbrough goalkeeper Jason Steele.

There was still time for more drama though as Middlesbrough’s Australian utility Rhys Williams was fouled in the penalty area in second half stoppage time.

Dutchman Marvin Emnes stepped up to take the spot-kick but his effort was not good enough, saved by Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.

The miss capped off a poor evening for the fifth-placed Middlesbrough as Leicester continued to climb the table.