Rob Kelly's unbeaten record since taking charge of Leicester remains intact despite his side playing 79 minutes with 10 men against promotion hopefuls Leeds.

The Foxes, who have now won three and drawn two of their last five matches, got off to a dream start when Iain Hume slammed home his third goal in as many games after five minutes.

But their luck quickly changed as Patrick McCarthy was dismissed for bringing down Rob Hulse in the area, and Leeds striker Robbie Blake also made it three in three from the spot.

However, it was the home side who had the chances to win the game after the break, with Leeds struggling to create any clear-cut opportunities as they dropped two points in their push for promotion.

Leicester made two changes from the side held to a 2-2 draw by Derby in midweek, with goalkeeper Paul Henderson coming in for the injured Rab Douglas and Danny Tiatto replacing Momo Sylla.

Leeds made one change following their 2-1 win against Watford, Eirik Bakke in for Shaun Derry.

The Foxes got off to a flying start, with Hume opening the scoring in the fifth minute after Matt Fryatt had already spurned a good headed chance.

Joey Gudjonsson smashed a free-kick into the wall, and the ball deflected into the path of Hume on the penalty spot. Leeds goalkeeper Neil Sullivan got a hand on his shot but could only push it into the net.

Leicester's joy was short-lived, though, as the visitors were back on level terms shortly afterwards.

McCarthy brought down Hulse with the striker clean through and was shown a straight red card. Blake coolly slotted home the resulting penalty for his 10th goal of the season.

The equaliser gave Kevin Blackwell's side a boost, and they came close to taking the lead twice in quick succession - Bakke drilling wide from 20 yards and Henderson denying Hulse with his feet.

Leicester were coping well with the loss of McCarthy and still posed an attacking threat as Gudjonsson fired in a shot from distance which fizzed past the post and Tiatto then went close before the break.

Gudjonsson saw a goal-bound effort blocked by Paul Butler at the start of the second half, with Leeds responding by bringing on another attacker.

David Healy came on for Bakke, but it was 10-man Leicester who continued to look the side more likely as Gudjonsson and then Hume with a 25-yard volley came close.

Stephen Hughes let fly with a stunning shot from 25 yards in the 66th minute which went inches wide as the Foxes showed no sign of fatigue.

Blake was withdrawn for Ian Moore with 20 minutes remaining, and Leeds finally began to look dangerous.

An Eddie Lewis free-kick from the left picked out Butler, but the defender's close-range header whistled past the upright, and shortly afterwards Moore sent a header straight into the arms of Henderson.

Liam Miller scuffed a shot badly wide, while man-of-the-match Hume almost snatched maximum points for the Foxes as he forced a good stop from Sullivan from six yards at the death.

Teams:

Leicester Henderson, Stearman, McCarthy, Kisnorbo, Johansson,Maybury, Hughes, Gudjonsson, Tiatto (Williams 64), Hume,Fryatt (O'Grady 76).

Subs Not Used: Smith, Gerrbrand, Logan.

Sent Off: McCarthy (11).

Booked: Hume.

Goals: Hume 5.

Leeds Sullivan, Kelly, Butler, Gregan, Crainey, Miller,Bakke (Healy 56), Douglas, Blake (Moore 71), Hulse, Lewis.

Subs Not Used: Bennett, Walton, Einarsson.

Booked: Miller, Lewis.

Goals: Blake 12 pen.

Att: 25,497

Ref: R Olivier (W Midlands).