Leicester City turned in another impressive pre-season performance despite going down 3-2 against Birmingham City at the Walkers Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Matty Fryatt's spectacular 35^th minute effort cancelled out Sebastian Larsson's opener before summer signing Kevin Phillips' late header looked to have secured the victory for the visitors.

Levi Porter had other ideas and his stunning strike from the edge of the area in the dying moments seemed to have earned his side a share of the spoils but up popped Phillips again in stoppage time to hand his side the win.

However, the scoreline was harsh on the hosts who enjoyed the majority of the play throughout the 90 minutes and created the better chances against their Championship opponents.

Goalscorer Fryatt came close on several other occasions while second half substitutes Ashley Chambers, James Wesolowski and Max Gradel also threatened the Birmingham goal.

The hosts started brightly and were the first to show on three minutes when Fryatt did well down the run flank and beat Martin Taylor to the by-line.

However, his deep cross proved just too much for the advancing Steve Howard and Lloyd Dyer.

It was Matt Oakley's turn to go close on 10 minutes when he fired goalwards from Nicky Adams' cross, but he just failed to keep his shot down and it sailed over the bar.

After Joe Mattock's surging run down the left, Fryatt cut inside but saw his effort shave the left hand upright, with goalkeeper Colin Doyle only a spectator.

Fryatt continued to impress and saw his shot blocked in the 20^th minute after another impressive build-up involving several City players.

However, the Blues broke the deadlock against the run of play on 27 minutes.

David Murphy's finally executed effort produced a fine one-handed save from Paul Henderson, but the loose ball fell kindly to Larsson, who tapped it home into an empty net for the opener.

But the Foxes were level in the 35^th minute thanks to a Fryatt special.

The striker played a neat one-two with Howard before curling an impressive 25-yard effort from the right hand side past a diving Colin Doyle and into the back of the net for a richly deserved equaliser.

The home side continued to impress and a dangerous ball into the box by Dyer was only just cleared by Liam Ridgewell on 39 minutes.

A moment's confusion between Taylor and Doyle almost let in Fryatt soon after whilst at the other end, former Fox Marcus Bent narrowly failed to collect Gary McSheffrey's through ball in the 43^rd minute.

Henderson had to be alert at his near post to thwart Stuart Parnaby's close range shot in first half stoppage time and therefore it remained 1-1 at the interval.

City made five changes for the start of the second half with DJ Campbell, Ashley Chambers, Max Gradel, Michael Morrison and James Wesolowski replacing Howard, Fryatt, Adams, Jack Hobbs and Radostin Kishishev respectively.

The visitors had substitute Rahdi Jaidi to thank on 48 minutes when he blocked Chambers' goal-bound shot after some silky play by Gradel.

Dyer flashed a header wide from Gradel's cross in the 58^th minute before it was Gradel's turn to go close just after the hour.

Levi Porter replaced Dyer on 64 minutes then James McFadden's header was comfortably gathered by Henderson.

Goalscorer Larsson lobbed his effort over the bar moments later before the Foxes had appeals for a penalty turned down on 70 minutes after Gradel went down in the area.

Doyle saved Chambers' shot when clean through then Wesolowski put the follow-up over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

And they were made to pay when recent signing Phillips put his side back in front 12 minutes from time with a close range header following a corner.

Porter's late, late effort from 20-yards drew his side level once more but Phillips broke clear in injury time to fire past Henderson for the winner.

City's pre-season campaign continues on Saturday when they travel to Crystal Palace.

City: Henderson, Gilbert, Mattock, Tunchev, Hobbs (Morrison 45), Kishishev (Wesolowski 45), Adams (Gradel 45), Oakley ©, Howard (Campbell 45), Fryatt (Chambers A 45), Dyer (Porter 64). Subs not used: Logan, Hayles, Worley.

Birmingham: Doyle, Parnaby, Murphy, Taylor, Ridgewell, Larsson, Nafti, Carsley ©, McSheffrey, Bent, McFadden. Subs: Krysiak, Kelly, Jaidi, Mutch, O'Connor, Jerome, Phillips.

Referee: Trevor Kettle

Attendance: 6,354