A superb double from second half substitute Paul Gallagher gave Leicester City a fine win over a lively Crystal Palace side at the Walkers Stadium tonight.

The game was even at the break but two minutes short of the hour mark, Gallagher was tripped in the Palace area. Matty Fryatt saw his spot-kick saved but Gallagher was there to follow up in style for the opener. Then with just under ten minutes left he spotted Palace keeper Julian Speroni off his line and swept a superb 30-yard dipper into the gaping net.

City made two changes from Saturday, both at full-back where Robbie Neilson returned for Michael Morrison on the right and Ryan McGivern made his debut for Bruno Berner on the left.

The Foxes were on the attack right away. Inside the first minute, a Matt Oakley free kick was turned out but a Fryatt cross from the left was headed behind for a corner which Wayne Brown headed wide before Brown was in action at the other end, clearing well from a cross by Nick Carle.

City were then pushed back, a Neil Danns shot was blocked after a Chris Weale punch-out had landed kindly to him and when Alan Lee crossed towards Danns, Brown again stepped in with the vital clearance. Then a free kick by Clint Hill saw Alassane N'Diaye glance a header inches wide.

But at the other end, City put together a great move, Steve Howard finding Lloyd Dyer on the left then running on to get on the end of Dyer's cross for a header saved by the keeper. Howard was then fouled 25 yards out and from the free-kick, McGivern fired his shot too high, leaving the encounter scoreless at the break.

City restarted really fired up, Gallagher on for Dyer, and he almost made an instant impact as, from a Fryatt cross from the right in the first minute of the half, he saw his far-post volley saved. Moments later, Jack Hobbs ran forward and sent Fryatt in for an effort which was blocked for a corner that came to nothing.

It was all City at this stage and a Neilson cross was touched back by Oakley for Richie Wellens to try a shot but he blasted the ball over from outside the area. Next, from a City free-kick, a Brown shot gained a corner which was cleared.

Then came the deserved breakthrough, Gallagher being tripped on the left edge of the area by Carle, Fryatt's shot from the spot was blocked by Spironi but Gallagher was first to react and netted the rebound in the 58th minute.

It was no more than City deserved and while the visitors showed some spirit, City were always in control with shots from Gallagher and Waghorn, on for Howard, kept the pressure on before the game was eventually settled.

DJ Campbell, on for Fryatt, went clean through on a Waghorn pass but saw his shot saved. The heat stayed on and when Gallagher was fouled in the area, it was a clear penalty which led to Gallagher breaking the deadlock.

City were now in charge and when Gallagher lofted his superb long-range effort home it meant the scoreli ne was a fairer reflection of the overall play.

City: Weale; Neilson, Hobbs, Brown, McGivern, Oakley, A King, Wellens, Dyer, Fryatt, Howard. Subs: Logan, Morrison, N'Guessan, Waghorn (65 for Howard), Kermorgant, Campbell (78 for Fryatt), Gallagher (46 for Dyer).

Crystal Palace: Speroni; McCarthy, Hill, Fonte, N'Diaye, Derry, Danns, Sears, Carle, Lee, Butterfield. Subs: Flahavan, John (71 for Carle), Scannell, Ambrose (71 for Lee), Clyne, Davis (78 for N'Diaye), Ertl.

Referee: R East.

Attendance: 22,220.