A brilliant goal five minutes from time by Dany N'Guessan (pictured) gave Leicester City a 1-0 win over Chesterfield at Saltergate last night.
Both sides had made several changes as the game entered its closing stages and when Lloyd Dyer, pouncing on a defensive mistake, sent N'Guessan clean through, the new man made no mistake for his second goal in successive games, having got off the pre-season mark at Shrewsbury on Saturday.
The goal brightened up a dull game on a miserable night and once again City boss Nigel Pearson was not denying that it could have been more impressive than it was.
He admitted "It was not the best game in the world but it was a good win. We were a little bit disjointed at times which was a little bit of a surprise but we still did enough to win the game.
"If on Saturday (the 4-0 win at Shrewsbury), we thought we were making great strides then this is a bit of a reality check so, still a bit of work to do but there were plenty of positives as there always are.
"We will play better than that but again there were good habits, we ended up winning the game, kept a clean sheet and we move on but we have to be better than that, no doubt about that.
"I am not satisfied, obviously but it was a good exercise and another 90 minutes."
City survived an early scare when home striker Jack Lester got clean through and tried to chip Conrad Logan but the City keeper leapt to grab the ball.
At the other end, a fine cross from the right by Max Gradel found Paul Dickov in the middle and the City striker's effort needed a good save from veteran keeper Mark Crossley.
The home keeper was in action again as a Gradel 30 yarder needed to be turned to safety at full stretch and a Howard shot was next to test him, the only reply at this stage towards the break being a Lester snap shot which sailed over.
City made three changes at the break, Hobbs on for Tunchev, Weale for Logan and Dyer for Dickov, N'Guessan switching from the left wing to through the middle.
Goal chances were few and far between, a Howard header drifting over and a Dyer shot from the left skidding inches wide of the far post.
Michael Morrison, Nicky Adams and Richie Wellens were all intriduced into the action then, just when a goalless draw was on the cards, a brilliant pass through by Dyer sent N'Guessan clear and he steered the ball home with a clinical finish in the 85th minute.
City not only played out time well but could have stretched their lead, Luke O'Neill, on for Bruno Berner, seeing two rasping shots blocked to safety in stoppage time.
City 4-4-2 Logan; Neilson, Tunchev, Brown, Berner, Gradel, Oakley, A King, N'Guessan, Howard, Dickov. Subs Dyer (45 for Dickov), Hobbs (45 for Tunchev), Weale (45 for Logan), Morrison (55 for Neilson), O'Neill (55 for Berner), Wellens (55 for Gradel), Adams (75 for Howard), Chambers, Burns, Powell, Verma.
Chesterfield Crossley; Picken, Page, Breckin, Robertson, Lowry, Gray, Niven, Allott, Lester, Bowery. Subs Austin, Gritton (78 for Lester), Currie (59 for Gray), Harsley (75 for Niven), Kerry, Hall, Boden (59 for Bowery), Malak.
Referee J Waugh
Attendance 1,973.
