Deane caused Brighton problems all evening

Leicester moved within two points of leaders Portsmouth at the top of the First Division as Brian Deane's header secured a narrow win at Brighton.

Deane, back after a two-game suspension, was left unmarked to nod home Alan Rogers' free-kick in the 72nd minute and make amends for a host of earlier misses.

The defeat extended Brighton's winless run to seven matches and kept them in the bottom two.

Kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes with some fans unable to get to the ground on time following a road accident nearby.

When the action did get under way the visitors were immediately on the attack, as Dickov tested Brighton goalkeeper Michels Kuipers in the second minute.

And Leicester thought they had scored after 22 minutes when a Deane effort was desperately hacked away by a covering Brighton defender.

City players were adamant the ball had crossed the line, only for referee Tony Bates to wave away their appeals.

Deane was causing havoc in the Seagulls' penalty area and was guilty of wasting another good chance just before the half hour as he headed wide from close range.

Penalty appeal

The home side felt they should have had a penalty shortly after the restart, Graham Barrett going down under the challenge of a Leicester defender, but the referee waved play on.

Brighton were enjoying their best spell as thick fog set in, and they came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock on the hour.

Barrett's curling free-kick from 25 yards took a wicked deflection that had Walker scrambling, but the former England international managed to turn the ball round the post.

But soon after Leicester finally went ahead from a set-piece.

Rogers picked out Deane, and the towering forward was left with the simple task of powering home his eighth goal of the season.

City were happy to protect their lead, and did so with ease, with Watson and Barrett failing to trouble Walker with shots from distance.

Brighton: Kuipers, Watson, Cullip, Pethick, Mayo, Rodger, Carpenter, Sidwell, Jones, Zamora, Barrett. Subs: Packham, Oatway, Brooker, Hart, Hinshelwood.

Leicester: Walker, Impey, Elliott, Heath, Rogers, McKinlay, Izzet, Stewart, Deane, Dickov, Scowcroft. Subs: Flowers, Benjamin, Stevenson, Lewis, Summerbee.

Referee: T Bates (Stoke on Trent)