Leicester City were held by Ipswich Town at Portman Road this afternoon for a solid start to their Championship campaign, four points from two games.

They dominated the first half and while the Tractor Boys picked up after the break, the visitors always looked to have the slight edge.

Robbie Neilson's debut made him the club's 1,000 player to wear the colours, at right back for Michael Morrison while, from midweek at Macclesfield, Bruno Berner returned at left-back and Lloyd Dyer was back for Nicky Adams on the left.

City almost took the lead in the opening minutes, ex-City man Gareth McAuley fouling Matty Fryatt 25 yards out and from the free kick move, a Lloyd Dyer cross was headed over by Wayne Brown from close range.

Back came the home side and a break by Lee Martin, off-side not given, saw him go clear then check in for a shot straight at Chris Weale. From then on it was mainly the visitors who held sway, a cross from the left not being cleared and Neilson turned the ball just wide.

Next, good play by Dany N'Guessan helped carve out a chance for Fryatt who cut in from the right for a shot well saved then again City came so close, a long throw by Neilson being turned over by Steve Howard in the heart of the goal area

Both sides then had chances within seconds, Fryatt being just beaten to a through ball by Richard Wright and from the clearance, a fine shot by Walters tested Weale at full stretch The home side perked up towards the break but again City had a chance, McAuley being booked for another foul on Fryatt 20 yards out and the free-kick saw a Dyer swerver miss the left-hand post by inches.

 The home side brought on Priskin and Wickham at the break  but it was City who were first to show when, after a corner was not dealt with, Fryatt had a shot saved

Wellens was then booked and the home side began to threaten with a header from Walters well saved by Weale but soon City were on the way forward again, N'Guessan cutting in from the right for a left foot shot that whizzed inches wide of the far post.

From another cross, Howard turned the ball back across goal where David Wright appeared to get away with a handball and when the ball broke to Fryatt his effort spun wide. Next, a long throw by Neilson was cleared inches wide when the ball could have drifted into the net.

In the closing stages, Howard was booked for a foul while Weale and Waghorn, on for Fryatt, were shown yellow cards for time-wasting.

The last serious action was a free-kick fired over from 25 yards by ex-City man Damien Delaney but City would be the more aggreived at having to settle for just a point.

 City: Weale; Neilson, Hobbs, Brown, Berner, N'Guessan, Oakley, Wellens, Dyer, Fryatt, Howard. Subs: Logan, Morrison, Tunchev, A King (63 for N'Guessan), Adams (75 for Dyer), Waghorn (63 for Fryatt), Dickov.

Booked: Wellens, Howard, Waghorn, Weale.

Ipswich: R Wright; D Wright, Delaney, McAuley, Martin, Peters, Stead, Balkestein, Healey, Walters, Trotter. Subs: Bruce, Garvan (63 for Martin), Priskin (46 for Healey), Colback, Supple, Smith, Wickham (46 for Stead).

Booked: McAuley.

Referee P Crossley

Attendance: 22,454.