Ipswich moved off the bottom of the FA Barclaycard Premiership with a thoroughly deserved win over fellow strugglers Leicester at Portman Road.

Second-half goals from Marcus Bent and Sixto Peralta were enough to see off Dave Bassett's Foxes, who replace George Burley's men at the foot of the table tonight.

Ipswich won their first home game of the season back in August, but had picked up just two points in their eight matches at Portman Road since. Leicester, meanwhile, had been beaten five times on their travels to date.

And with three points so vital today for both teams in their bid to avoid the drop, it was perhaps no surprise that there was a cagey opening to this afternoon's encounter.

When the first chance did arrive after some six minutes of mundane action, it was the visitors who could have found themselves ahead.

Former Town striker James Scowcroft made some room inside the box and his low drive was well blocked by Matteo Sereni at the near post.

It was the Foxes who made all the early running and Chris Makin had to be alert to sweep Robbie Savage's low cross behind.

Finidi George - as per usual - was, meanwhile, proving to be central to Town's plan of attack.

But when the Nigerian international did move the ball out into the space on the flanks, he was let down by a combination of poor crossing and some inept long-range shooting from his team-mates.

George then took it upon himself to provide the ammunition into the danger area, only for Bent to miss a golden opportunity to put his side in front 10 minutes from half time.

The £3million signing from Blackburn had got ahead of his marker at the far post, but as the ball dropped to him, Bent could only manage to stoop and nod the ball tamely at Ian Walker from point-blank range, with the England international keeper just doing enough to palm the loose ball away before it was hacked clear.

Martijn Reuser then saw his 25-yard free-kick scream just over the crossbar as Ipswich went into the break on top, but frustratingly still on level terms.

Scowcroft almost put Leicester in front seconds after the restart, but found Sereni equal to his close-range bullet header after getting up well to meet Lee Marshall's centre from the right.

Armstrong then had a low, 15-yard drive well saved by Walker at the other end, but the former Tottenham man could do little as Ipswich took the lead on 48 minutes.

Reuser took the ball off a dithering Marshall on the left and skipped into the area before sending in a low centre across the six-yard box for Bent to head home his first goal for the Blues.

The whole of Portman Road was lifted by the goal, sensing the chance to go on and grab the initiative in their quest to move off the bottom of the table.

That outcome looked a distinct possibility when Ipswich produced another well-worked goal in the 55th minute.

Dutchman Reuser was again the provider from the left as his accurate chip into the area sent Peralta clear.

The Argentinian, on a season's loan from Serie A giants Inter Milan, needed no second invitation as he hooked the ball into the far corner with a sublime first touch.

Bassett threw on all three permitted substitutes as the game approached the final 20 minutes in a desperate bid to take something from the game.

Ade Akinbiyi was pushed into a three-man attack, with Marshall and youngster Jordan Stewart also making way for Andy Impey and Callum Davidson, brought on to try and provide some bite down the flanks.

But Ipswich were now knocking the ball about well in midfield, with Reuser again the main outlet down the left after George had been given a well-deserved rest, replaced by Jermaine Wright just after the hour.

The change did make Leicester look a more potent threat going forward, but it left holes at the back.

Makin exploited space down the right and his low centre was only half cleared, with Reuser desperately unlucky to then see his 20-yard drive fly just past the far post in the final minute.

Teams:

Ipswich: Sereni, Makin, Bramble, Venus, Hreidarsson, George (Wright 62), Holland, Peralta (Magilton 85), Reuser, Armstrong (Naylor 75), Marcus Bent.

Subs Not Used: Branagan, Clapham.

Goals: Marcus Bent 48, Peralta 55.

Leicester City: Walker, Marshall (Impey 66), Sinclair, Elliott, Stewart (Davidson 66), Savage, Izzet, Oakes, Rogers (Akinbiyi 58), Deane, Scowcroft.

Subs Not Used: Flowers, Wise.

Booked: Izzet, Sinclair.

Att: 24,403

Ref: N Barry (Scunthorpe).