Leicester manager Nigel Pearson admits his side cannot afford too many performances like the one at Reading if they are to maintain a serious promotion challenge.

The Foxes won 1-0 at the Madejski Stadium courtesy of a header from on loan striker Martyn Waghorn on the stroke of half-time but their goal led a charmed life as the hosts squandered chance after chance.

A combination of fortune and several saves from keeper Chris Weale saw City climb into the play-off places - but Pearson insists his side must improve.

"I'll be the first to admit our goal at times had a charmed life," Pearson said. "We were playing a side who were very low in confidence and they were certainly unfortunate.

"Clean sheets are pleasing but we have to play better than that. When you don't play well you have to dig in and I thought that even though we weren't at our best we were prepared to stick in there.

"You can't preen your feathers with a win like this but it could prove to be a fantastic result for us."