A moment of magic from Alen Boksic edged Middlesbrough closer to Premiership safety at Filbert Street.

The Croatian striker took his tally for the season to 12 goals with a magnificent finish in the 50th minute.

Boksic left Leicester skipper Gerry Taggart trailing in his wake after the central defender had pushed up and homed in on goal.

Gary Rowett tried to get a tackle in but Boksic eluded him and chipped keeper Simon Royce superbly from the edge of the area.

Two minutes later Paul Ince added a third to condemn Leicester to their eighth defeat in a row.

Hamilton Ricard had put Middlesbrough ahead after 11 minutes and although Leicester tried to claw their way back into the game their luck was out.

Ricard's ninth goal of the season came after Leicester were caught napping when Christian Karembeu played a short corner to Dean Gordon.

He had time and space to deliver a cross into the box and Colombian striker Ricard nodded the ball beyond Royce.

Middlesbrough are battling for their Premiership lives and it was just the start they needed against a Leicester side in freefall after their FA Cup defeat by Wycombe.

Leicester rallied after Ricard's goal and keeper Mark Schwarzer did well to turn away a shot from Steve Guppy with his legs.

Then Junior Lewis sent a free header wide after Guppy had floated in a cross.

Leicester were stung by that early goal but Guppy was working hard to turn things around and saw his close-range effort deflected to safety by Ricard.

Gordon should have extended Middlesbrough's lead after 22 minutes when he was released by Karembeu on the right, but he failed to find the target from a good position and Leicester breathed a sigh a relief.

Leicester's Robbie Savage and Middlesbrough's Windass were both booked after tussling near the centre circle.

Taggart, captain in place of the injured Matt Elliott, almost pulled Leicester level after 25 minutes only to glance a header wide following a corner from Guppy.

Middlesbrough had a lucky escape in the 37th minute when a stunning 20-yard strike from Damien Delaney came back off the bar. It fell sweetly to Ade Akinbiyi six yards out but he only succeeded in sending a header high into the crowd.

Leicester were beginning to force the pace and Akinbiyi got away from his marker in the 42nd minute only to glance his effort wide after Andy Impey had delivered the cross.

Impey tried to set up another attack on the stroke of half-time but his intended pass to Guppy was just too long.

Middlesbrough survived the onslaught and went into the interval still holding the advantage.

Leicester manager Peter Taylor made a switch a half-time, bringing off Dean Sturridge and replacing him with Arnar Gunnlaugsson.

Middlesbrough extended their lead in the 50th minute thanks to that superb effort from Boksic.

Two minutes later Middlesbrough went 3-0 ahead after Lewis sliced his clearance from Gordon's corner.

Ince pounced on the loose ball and rattled a shot beyond the despondent Royce from the edge of the area.

Middlesbrough coach Terry Venables had the luxury of being able to take Boksic off and replace him with Noel Whelan in the 79th minute.

Leicester continued to press forward in the hope of getting a consolation goal to appease their supporters.

But Middlesbrough were much too street-wise and remained secure to make it 10 points from their last six games.

For Leicester manager Peter Taylor, however, it was another frustrating 90 minutes and he must wonder how he can pull things around.

Teams

Leicester: Royce, Impey, Sinclair (Marshall 55), Taggart (Davidson 72), Rowett, Guppy, Lewis, Savage, Delaney, Sturridge (Gunnlaugsson 45), Akinbiyi.

Subs Not Used: Flowers, Benjamin.

Booked: Taggart, Savage, Sinclair.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Gavin, Gordon, Ehiogu, Karembeu (Mustoe 74), Cooper, Okon, Ince, Windass, Boksic (Whelan 80), Ricard (Stamp 69).

Subs Not Used: Crossley, Marinelli.

Booked: Windass.

Goals: Ricard 12, Boksic 50, Ince 52.

Att: 18,162

Ref: P Taylor (Cheshunt).