Defender Richard Stearman bundled in Stephen Clemence's 12th-minute free-kick to give Ian Holloway's side the lead before brilliantly clearing off his own line to deny Ipswich a deserved equaliser.

Patrick Kisnorbo then headed in a carbon-copy second for the Foxes and despite the match being disrupted in the second half by an injury to referee Keith Hill, the home side held on for three vital points.

Jim Magilton's side - who have only dropped four points at Portman Road all season but are yet to win on the road despite playing some attractive football - showed their fragile side by failing to defend a single set-piece convincingly.

But with Magilton set to be handed up to £12million to spend in next month's transfer window after Marcus Evans' £44million takeover of the club, Ipswich could yet prove promotion candidates come May.

The Tractor Boys had the first chance of the game when Alan Lee made a rampaging run down the right and his clever cross with the outside of his foot found Gavin Williams in space but he shot tamely at Marton Fulop.

Ipswich full-back Dan Harding was then booked for a crude challenge on James Chambers and the home side took the lead from the resulting free-kick.

Captain Clemence delivered a fine inswinging cross from the right which was missed by a clutch of players around the penalty spot and Stearman diverted it in with his chest from barely three yards out.

Fulop then had to race off his line to foil Lee after Owen Garvan had bisected the defence with a lofted pass before Stearman headed clear from his own goalline to deny the waiting Pablo Counago after Jon Walters' deep cross had beaten Fulop.

And Kisnorbo doubled the lead in the 33rd minute when he powered a header down into the bottom right corner from another excellent Clemence free-kick from the right wing.

The second half started in comical fashion when Ipswich defender David Wright's clearance smashed into referee Hill's face.

Hill stayed down and required medical treatment for several minutes but was initially able to continue and instantly turned down Counago's penalty appeal as the away side pressed for an early goal.

Hill was then forced to leave the field in the 57th minute with linesman Richard Smith taking over and fourth official Wayne Porter coming on in his place.

The match struggled to get going again after the disruption but Ipswich captain Jason De Vos should have pulled one back in the 66th minute.

De Vos got in front of Kisnorbo to meet Williams' right-wing corner but stabbed his effort down into the turf and wide.

Magilton then made a triple substitution in a bid to inject some life into the match but Ipswich's only effort of note in nine minutes of injury time saw Lee shoot straight at Fulop from the edge of the area to ensure that their dire away run continues.