Leicester's defensive resilience pleased manager Nigel Pearson equally as much as the attacking flair his side showed during their 1-0 npower Championship victory over east midlands rivals Derby at Pride Park.
The visitors were superb in the first half and scored the only goal of the game after 16 minutes when Neil Danns expertly steered his far-post volley across goalkeeper Frank Fielding and into the opposite corner. Had it not been for Fielding the margin of defeat would have been much greater.
Pearson, whose side moved within eight points of a play-off place, said: "We might have lost that game a few weeks ago. The positive spin on us not controlling the second half and not quite being as fluent in the second half is that we still showed a resilience and a spirit and a desire as a group to keep a clean sheet and to win the game."
He added: "I don't know whether Kasper (Schmeichel) has had a save to make, I really don't. We had to put some really good blocks in and defend with an awful lot of spirit but in terms of their attempts on target I know it won't be many.
"But I think we controlled the game. There was a little bit of anxiety around the ground from the locals, which happens when they don't see things happening. But you have got to give us credit for creating that kind of atmosphere."
Rams boss Nigel Cough felt that quality in front of goal was the difference between the sides.
He said: "I am delighted with the second half performance - that is exactly how we want to play at home.
"In the first half we didn't get close enough to them and didn't get on the front foot enough. I don't know why that was. We are on a bit of an indifferent run and Leicester are on the back of just beating Norwich in the FA Cup and they were the confident side, and I think you can always tell the confident side because they always look that yard sharper.
"They have that quality in the final third of the pitch, which they will do when they spend a few quid on the likes of (Jermaine) Beckford and Nugent. That makes a difference.
"Our problem in the last few weeks has been exactly what you saw tonight. We got into the same positions as Leicester but we just couldn't deliver that final ball. But it will come. We've got a few 20-year-olds in the team and we have just got to keep working with them and they will improve."
