Leicester v Ipswich: Ipswich Town were architects of their own downfall in a 3-0 defeat at Championship table-toppers Leicester City.

The Foxes may have played with an intensity and swagger befitting of their lofty position in the first half, but they were given a major helping hand when it came to their first and second goals.

Jamie Vardy seized on a blindly hit Jay Tabb back pass before rounding keeper Dean Gerken to break the deadlock in the 19th minute.

Luke Chambers then contrived to mis-hit a clearance straight back to the feet of Ritchie de Laet in the build-up to the hosts’ second in the 31st minute – the Leicester full-back picking out David Nugent for a simple back post finish.

It was the Liverpudlian’s 14th goal in 13 matches against the Blues, Mick McCarthy’s side left facing damage limitation with little more than a third of the match played.

Nigel Pearson’s side took their foot off the gas after the restart though, having been involved in a pulsating 2-2 draw at East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest just three days earlier.

Ipswich, having chased shadows at times in the opening 45 minutes, had far more of the ball, but never really looked like creating anything from open play.

Tommy Smith put a difficult headed chance over following an Aaron Cresswell free-kick delivery, while Daryl Murphy failed to get good connection on a shot when the ball fell to him the box.

Leicester always looked like they could step things up a gear and the introduction of striker Chris Wood off the bench lifted them again.

The powerful front man was involved immediately when he set up Lloyd Dyer, the winger’s angled effort beaten away by Gerken at the near post.

And it was him who added a third two minutes from time when he raced onto Matty James’ well-weighted through ball before shrugging off the attentions of Tommy Smith and coolly finishing.

The final goal made it Ipswich’s heaviest defeat of the season, their previous six league defeats having been by either one or two goal margins. It was only their second defeat in 12 away league games.

The Blues remain five points behind sixth-place Reading but have dropped to 10th in the table, Blackburn leapfrogging them after defeating the Royals.

Wigan, Brighton, Blackburn and Leeds all have a game-in-hand on the Suffolk side.

- Reaction to follow.

LEICESTER CITY (4-4-2): Schmeichel; de Laet, Morgan (cpt), Wasilewski, Schlupp; Knockaert, James, Drinkwater, Dyer (Mahrez 64); Nugent (Phillips 83), Vardy (Wood 71).

Subs: Hammond, King, Moore, Logan.

IPSWICH TOWN (4-4-2): Gerken; Chambers (cpt), Berra, Smith, Cresswell; Green, Skuse, Tabb (Anderson 61), Hunt (Taylor 75); Murphy, Nouble (Ebanks-Blake 65).

Subs: Loach, Mings, Richardson, Wordsworth.

Referee: James Linington