The reunion of the traditional City strike partnership of Steve Howard and Matty Fryatt was instrumental in getting the Foxes back to winning ways just in time for the festive fixtures.

Sheffield United here on Boxing Day and Monday's trip to Doncaster - the "deadly duo" will want to continue from the Sheffield Wednesday win where Howard scored his first goal of the season.

After some formation changes it was, indeed, back to basics.

Howard said: "It was good to get back in there and we needed the win after the two defeats. I thought we played well and it was good to score. We looked more of a unit than we did in previous games and it was just what we needed."

Even though Fryatt was top marksman last season, Howard was Player of the Year for his selfless work for the team.

It is very much the sum being bigger than the two parts as Howard said: "We have a good partnership and that showed last season with the goals we scored together. I enjoy playing up front with him, he is a good player and an intelligent one.

"We need to remain being hard to beat. Those two defeats were once-in-a-blue-moon type of thing and I am still confident about making the play-offs."