A first-half strike by Martyn Waghorn gave City a vital win over their promotion challengers Cardiff City at the Walkers Stadium.
The victory opened up a five-point gap over the Welsh side in the race for the Premier League, and City are now seven points clear of Blackpool in seventh.
City brought in Alex Bruce for the injured Wayne Brown at the centre of the defence for his first start while new loan signing James Vaughan was on the bench.
The visitors looked strong in the opening stages, and it took a great block by Jack Hobbs to foil Ross McCormack who was poised to shoot. City then replied with a good move between Matt Oakley and Lloyd Dyer but the final pass was just too strong.
Next, when McCormack threatened again, Bruce made a brilliant tackle on him. At the other end Dyer was brought down in the area but their penalty appeals came to nothing.
Then City came close. a great move down the left saw Bruno Berner's cut-back deflected for a corner. Hobbs's header was cleared off the line and from the second corner Andy King and Paul Gallagher saw shots blocked.
The pressure had to tell and in the 28th minute it did when a cross from the left was nodded down by King to Martyn Waghorn who turned the ball home in style.
Moments later crosses by Dyer and Michael Morrison kept the Bluebirds pushed back but they held firm . Bruce then had to be replaced by Nolberto Solano through injury. Solano went to right-back and Morrison moved in the middle. Solano impressed almost instantly finding Oakley in the area but no-one could connect with the skipper's header across the face of goal.
Towards the break, City had to defend a free-kick from hot-shot Peter Whittingham but his effort hit the wall and Mark Kennedy's follow-up effort flew wide to leave the Welsh side still behind at the interval.
City started brightly in the second half as Dyer raced into the area but was just crowded out. Then after a fine move, a Solano cross was turned away from Waghorn.
Jack Hobbs then saved Leicester again, as his diving block denied McCormack, and from the resultant set piece Weale did well to come off his line and claim.
Just after the hour, following a booking for Berner, Vaughan came on for Oakley and was soon in action, touching the ball on for Waghorn but Cardiff cleared. Next, a long-range effort from Gallagher sailed a fraction wide as City turned up the heat.
Cardiff had a chance through McCormack but Weale saved well then later the striker saw his rising shot fly inches over as the visitors mounted a late fightback.
Jay Bothroyd's shot on the turn was well saved by Weale. Then as Leicester pushed for a second goal, a flick on by sub Steve Howard, sent Vaughan into the area where he appeared to be fouled but the debutant's claims were rejected.
Whittingham went close to finding a late equaliser as he sent a left footed shot fizzing over the bar, but Pearson's side held firm to claim all three points.
City: Weale; Morrison, Hobbs, Bruce, Berner, Oakley, A King, Wellens, Gallagher, Waghorn, Dyer. Subs: Logan, McGivern, Solano (34 for Bruce), Howard (76 for Waghorn), Adams, N'Guessan, Vaughan (62 for Oakley).
Booked: Bruno Berner.
Cardiff City: Marshall; Matthews, McNaughton, Kennedy, Gerrard, McPhail, Blake, Bothroyd, Whittingham, Burke, McCormack. Subs: Enckelman, Quinn, Capaldi, Rae (70 for Matthews), Wildig, Taiwo, Feeney.
Referee: K Evans.
Attendance: 22,767
