FOXES AVOID BLUES' TRAP TO GO TOP

ENZO Maresca paid tribute to Leicester’s character after seeing them regain control of the race for automatic promotion.

- Steve Wilson

Stephy Mavididi’s 87thminute header, after Birmingham’s leading scorer Jay Stansfield had earlier cancelled out Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s opener, saw the Foxes take full advantage of defeats for both Ipswich and Leeds and regain first place.

“I just told the players I’m very happy, especially for the way we came through,” Maresca said. “We performed well throughout the game. Unfortunately, we conceded right at the end of the first half, but carried on in exactly the same way in the second half.

“There can be a temptation to try and go long ball, but we resisted that. The big thing for us is to manage the emotions. That is the most important thing at this stage of a season.”

With the Foxes returning to action at Millwall on Tuesday, Maresca added: “We just need to go game by game now. That has to be the mentality. We are not looking beyond that.”