Leicester City got the New Year off to a perfect start when they overcame Queens Park Rangers 1-0 at the Walkers Stadium on Monday afternoon.

The Foxes had posted just three wins from 13 games at home since the start of the season, but Craig Levein's side put in a solid performance to overturn the plucky visitors.

Leicester controlled the game for long periods on the day, but had their on loan 'keeper Stuart Taylor to thank for on a number of occasions during the 90 minutes.

David Connolly grabbed the only goal of the game from the penalty spot in just the ninth minute - his fourth goal of the campaign. 

Levein kept the faith with the side that had started the ill-fated game against Burnley just two days before - again adopting a 3-5-2 formation.

The game almost got off to an explosive start with just 50 seconds on the clock. Chris Makin found James Scowcroft at the far post with a fine cross-field ball, but his angled effort was diverted over the bar by Lilian Nalis from just two-yards out. The Frenchman's blushes were saved though when he was adjudged to have been offside.

The Foxes had started the game brightly, and they made their mark with a goal in the ninth minute. Danny Shittu was adjudged to have handled the ball inside his own penalty area, and Irishman Connolly convincingly dispatched the spot-kick past QPR 'keeper Chris Day.

Levein was forced into making a substitution in the 15th minute - with Joey Gudjonsson replacing the injured Scot Gemmill.

The visitors had their first effort on goal in the 23rd minute of the contest. Paul Furlong's rifled free-kick from 25 yards looked to be heading in, but Stuart Taylor pulled off an excellent save to deny the QPR striker.

The Foxes almost made it two in the 29th minute. A neat flick from Nikos Dabizas found Connolly on the by-line, but Scowcroft was only able to head his cross over the bar when under pressure.

QPR were now getting into the game, and came close on 34 minutes. Adam Miller hit a first time volley from the edge of the area, but his effort fell just over the bar.

Taylor was called into action for Leicester again in the 38th minute. George Santos looked to have bagged the equaliser with a close range volley, but the on-loan stopper reacted brilliantly to push the ball to safety.

City were now taking control of the game once again, and forced a good save out of Day in the 55th minute. Substitute Gudjonsson beat the last defender and fired in a shot from the angle, but the Rangers 'keeper did well to palm the ball wide.

Mark Rowlands thought he'd brought the visitors back into it on the hour mark when he blasted the ball past Taylor from 25-yards, but the referee had already blown the whistle for an infringement before his shot had hit the back of the net.

Taylor was in inspired form for the Foxes between the sticks, and he again made a fine stop in the 66th minute. Miller picked up a clearance from a corner and hit a firm shot goalwards from the edge of the Leicester area, but the Arsenal 'keeper was there again to make the save.

But the action was back down the other end of the pitch a minute later, and again City went close. Connolly looked to have curled a volley inside Day's right-hand upright, but the ball fell just wide of the target.

The Foxes fans gave a rousing reception to the masked Danny Tiatto when he replaced Nalis in the 70th minute. It was the Australian's first action since fracturing his cheekbone a fortnight prior.

And Tiatto picked up his 10th booking of the campaign for encroaching a free-kick in the closing stages, meaning he will now miss the next three games through suspension.

QPR pilled on the pressure on the final minutes of the match, but Leicester held out to record a much needed victory.

City: Taylor, Dabizas, Keown, Nalis (Tiatto 70), Dublin ©, Scowcroft, Stewart, Makin, Gemmill (Gudjonsson 15), Williams, Connolly (Heath 90).
Subs: Tiatto, Streaman, Heath, Wright.
Yellow: Connolly, Tiatto

QPR: Day, Bignot, Edghill, Shittu, Bircham, Gallen (Best 89), Rowlands, McLeod, Miller (Cureton 73), Santos, Furlong.
Subs: Cole, Bean, Branco.
Yellow: Rowlands
Att: 23,754