Carl Cort put a smile back on the face of the Crazy Gang with a last-gasp winner at Selhurst Park.

The England under-21 star left it late but crashed home his 15th goal of the season to earn a vital win for the Dons and ease their relegation fears.

Cort, who had looked out of touch for much of the game, volleyed the winner past Tim Flowers after Marcus Gayle flicked on Alan Kimble's corner in the 87th minute.

Neal Ardley had fired Wimbledon into a first-half lead from the penalty spot after a foul on Jason Euell.

But Gerry Taggart looked to have salvaged a point for the visitors when he forced the ball home from close range, 10 minutes into the second half.

Both clubs had endured a hectic few days since they were last in action.

Wimbledon, beaten 4-0 at Derby last week, had almost sold John Hartson to Tottenham for 7million before announcing no-one was for sale when the transfer collapsed at the 11th hour. It didn't stop Euell handing in a transfer request.

Leicester, meanwhile, confirmed football's worst kept secret after their 5-2 win over Sunderland by banking 11million from Liverpool for Emile Heskey.

One of the first transfer targets linked with the Foxes was Hartson if, of course, the Crazy Gang's owner were still willing to sell.

Governor Sam Hammam remains an integral part of Wimbledon despite selling his stake in the club.

He strolled down the touchline to take his seat next to the man who bought his shares, Bjorn Gjelsten, and later appeared next to Egil Olsen in the dug-out.

The players could perhaps be forgiven if their heads were still spinning when the game started.

Most of them appeared to be in a confused daze in a flat first half but Ardley's penalty was just reward for Wimbledon, who had dominated a subdued Leicester.

Tim Flowers raced off his line to save from Cort in the seventh minute as the Dons lanky striker looked set to add another goal to his impressive tally.

Robbie Earle skied a sharp chance, Cort was miles off target with a wayward header and Euell went close with a long range effort which drifted narrowly wide with Flowers scrambling anxiously across his line.

Confusion suddenly descended on Leicester's defence as they failed to deal with another of Wimbledon's aerial bombs.

Euell seized on the loose ball but was flattened by a combination of Robbie Savage and Taggart and Paul Alcock pointed to the spot. Ardley stepped up to send Flowers the wrong way.

Leicester continued to live dangerously at the back as half-time approached.

Marcus Gayle was totally unmarked at the near-post as he headed Alan Kimble's corner wide and Andreas Lund outjumped Matt Elliott but glanced a header wide.

Paul Heald, making a rare Premiership appearance in the absence of Neil Sullivan, had little to do before the break. He comfortably kept out long-range shots from Stan Collymore and Muzzy Izzet.

Andy Impey tested him more sternly with a fierce drive in the opening minutes but Heald beat it away with his fists.

The Dons keeper was picking the ball out of the net, however, 10 minutes after the break as the Foxes came out fighting.

Collymore was first to a cross from Guppy and glanced the ball goalwards, where Taggart was lurking to force home his sixth of the season.

Marcus Gayle blazed over after a superb run out of defence by Trond Andersen, Flowers denied Cort from the edge of the penalty area and Gayle was inches wide with his left foot.

It looked as if the Dons would have to settle for a point until Cort struck what could prove to be a priceless goal.

Teams

Wimbledon: Heald, Cunningham, Willmott, Andersen, Kimble, Ardley (Hughes 82), Earle, Euell, Gayle, Cort, Lund (Andresen 80).

Subs Not Used: Blackwell, Badir, Davis.

Goals: Ardley 33 pen, Cort 87.

Leicester: Flowers, Impey, Elliott, Sinclair, Taggart, Guppy, Lennon, Izzet, Savage (Gilchrist 51), Cottee (Marshall 65), Collymore.

Subs Not Used: Campbell, Arphexad, Zagorakis.

Goals: Taggart 55.

Att: 14,319

Ref: P Alcock (Halstead).