CITY (4-4-2): Simonsen; Hoefkens, Fortune, Zakuani, Higginbotham; Lawrence, Russell (Dickinson, 45), Eustace, Martin (Hendrie, 73); Parkin (Sidibe, 62), Fuller. Subs (Not Used): Hoult, Vass.

LEICESTER (4-4-2): Henderson; Stearman, Kenton, Kisnorbo, Maybury (Fryatt, 82); Newton, Johnson (Hughes, 68), Jarrett, Tiatto (Porter, 76); Hume, Hammond. Subs (Not Used): Logan, Johansson.

City got back to winning ways after their two disappointing away trips to keep the play-off flame still burning in an entertaining and competitive encounter.

Both sides showed their attacking intent, with the visitors having their fair share of chances.

Ricardo Fuller was instrumental in all of the Potters' goals, the first being scored by Jon Parkin after Leicester had taken a fifteen minute lead.

The Jamaican international scored the second from the penalty spot before laying on a goal for Mamady Sidibe and then had a hand in the injury-time fourth goal from Liam Lawrence.

His performance this afternoon displayed clearly what a dangerous forward he is - energetic, skilful and quick - when he resists the temptation not to retaliate against the illegal challenges to which he is so often subjected.

On a day when the Potters were forced to re-organise not once but twice because of injuries and suspension, the home fans will also have taken heart from the performance of John Eustace, who shouldered his midfield duties impressively.

They will also be encouraged by the manner in which the team came back after conceding an early goal, took the lead, and then regained it after a Leicester equaliser.

Andy Griffin's suspension forced Tony Pulis to reorganise his defence, with Danny Higginbotham switching to left-back and Gabriel Zakuani coming into the centre.  With Lee Hendrie not fit to start, Lee Martin started on the left flank of midfield, while up front Mamady Sidibe lost out to the favoured pairing of Jon Parkin and Ricardo Fuller.

On a bright but breezy afternoon, the first corner of the match, to Leicester after just two minutes, almost brought a goal when centre-back Paddy Kisnorbo's headed Danny Tiatto's flag-kick just wide.

The game then became rather scrappy for a short spell before another set-piece, a long free-kick from the left from Tiatto, led to the first goal after a quarter of an hour.

Steve Simonsen caught the high ball before being clattered by Kisnorbo when still in the air.  Darren Kenton easily converted the loose ball as everybody waited for a whistle for a foul on the 'keeper which never came.

It was a controversial but shattering goal, but City responded in the best possible fashion less than three minutes later when Fuller did well on the right to play the ball into Lawrence, who slipped the ball into the middle for Jon Parkin to side-foot the ball home from eight yards for his first goal in City's colours.

The visitors were adopting a physical approach, with Stephen Hughes and Darren Kenton going into the book for fouls and Ian Hume for dissent, and so it came as no surprise when City were awarded a penalty after twenty-seven minutes when Kenton brought down Fuller as he tried to weave his way down the goal-line on the left.

Skipper Danny Higginbotham, the normal penalty taker, was content to let Fuller get up and send Paul Henderson the wrong way from the spot for his ninth goal of the season.

The Foxes almost equalised straight from the re-start but Simonsen reacted well to save from Hume as the Leicester striker tried to flick the ball high to his left.

Simonsen had to pull off another good save, this time a point-blank reaction stop from Tiatto after hesitation in City's defence had allowed Elvis Hammond to put the ball across goal.

The game was now opening up, with both sides looking for the next vital goal, and the Foxes coming closest in what was proving to be an rousing contest.

The re-jigged City defence didn't look by any means watertight and former Potters loanee Jason Jarrett saw a fierce shot pass just wide five minutes before half-time and two minutes later was denied by another fine save by Simonsen who tipped away his shot at full stretch.

There was just time before the break for the ever-aggressive Tiatto to become the fourth Leicester player to go into Mr Ilderton's book, and it was clear that there was plenty of competitive action - and goals - left in the match.

City were forced into a change at half-time after Darel Russell had to withdraw from the fray through a hamstring injury.   Both the back four and midfield were re-organised with Dickinson coming on at left-back, Higginbotham switching back to centre-back and Zakuani moving to right-back, allowing Carl Hoefkens to take up Rusell's midfield slot.

The Foxes continued to put in some less than cultured challenges as the match went into a disjointed phase, typified by the visitors' equaliser after fifty-seven minutes.

Several misplaced passes around the Leicester box ended with the ball being played forward.With Stoke committed to attack, three defenders found themselves confronted by four opponents, but it was a scuffed shot from Hammond which trickled into the net with Simonsen wrong-footed.

This prompted the substitution of Parkin for Sidibe, and almost immediately Henderson came rushing out of goal in a vain attempt to stop Fuller down the left.  Unfortunately the ball back into the middle lacked the accuracy for City to take advantage of the vacant goal.

As Leicester threatened to build on their momentum, Zakuani put in a timely tackle to thwart another attack, and the need to keep possession prompted the introduction of Hendrie to replace Martin after seventy-three minutes.

A defence-splitting pass from Eustace was wasted by Fuller who tried to bend the ball into the goal from a narrow angle instead of passing into the middle, but it gave hope of penetrating the visitors' defence again.

This hope was realised after seventy-nine minutes when Sidibe put Fuller away down the left and ran into the box to side-foot home the pass from his partner.

Leicester reacted by sending on a striker, Matt Fryatt, for a defender, Alan Maybury, leaving just three men at the back, but it was City who wrapped up the match in injury time when the two recent substitutes were involved in Liam Lawrence's goal.

Sidibe did well to rescue a ball in the left corner which seemed lost.   He played the ball back to Hendrie, who instead of taking the ball back towards the flag, showed a deft touch and good vision to put a ball across goal.It was half-cleared to Fuller who slipped the ball to the right for the winger to slam a cross-shot into the far corner of the net.

It was just the result that was needed before the Easter programme which starts with a vital clash at the Hawthorns next Saturday.  The Potters may not have been happy at having to re-organise the side, but will take heart from the re-appearance of Hendrie and the performance of John Eustace, who took on his responsibility in midfield with confidence and relish.

As in the last match, against Southampton, City had seemed more comfortable against a side who were positive than they had against sides like Luton and Barnsley who packed men behind the ball.

All they can do is keep on playing to win, and as they prepare for next Saturday they will take comfort from the fact that they have done well against the top teams.