Iain Hume's fifth goal in as many games steered Leicester City to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Stoke at the Walkers Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Canadian international's seventh of the campaign coupled with Stephen Hughes well-executed second-half effort helped extend the Foxes unbeaten run in the Championship to eight matches.
Danny Tiatto, Elvis Hammond and Richard Stearman also created openings for the hosts while at the other end Ricardo Fuller proved a real handful.
He netted the Potters consolation and was also denied by the crossbar, but it was the home side's night and another spirited display made sure of another welcome three points.
The visitors were the first to show on two minutes when Fuller blazed his shot just wide from the right hand angle when he would have hoped to register an attempt on goal.
On 12 minutes Iain Hume and Potters skipper Michael Duberry clashed on the edge of the area, but referee Graham Laws waved play on much to the Canadian's disgruntlement.
Steve Simonsen parried Tiatto's powerful effort in the 16th minute with Hammond unable to capitalise on the rebound.
The Australian was at it again a minute later when Simonsen had to be alert to deny him for a second time.
It was the Tiatto show and a third thunderous effort forced the Stoke shotstopper into another save.
At the other end, Darren Kenton, playing at centre-half, denied Fuller from close range before the resulting corner was cleared.
Danny Higginbotham headed just over on 32 minutes while Hughes almost released a free-running Hammond soon after.
Hume shot inches over in the 35th minute before Conrad Logan raced off his line to smoother the ball at the feet of Fuller, who remained rooted to the floor and play was stopped while he received treatment.
However, the striker returned to the field and opened the scoring in the 42nd minute.
Out of the blue, Fuller caught the Foxes defence napping and lobbed the ball over Logan and into the back of the net, via the far post for the opener.
But the hosts were not to be outdone and equalised in first half stoppage time.
Momo Sylla's inswinging free-kick from the left bounced off Hammond and fell at the feet of Hume, who made no mistake from 12-yards, planting the ball past the outstretched arm of Simonsen for the leveller.
Danny Higginbotham was replaced by Clint Hill at the start of the second half but there was little he could do to prevent Hammond was registering an attempt on goal on 46 minutes.
Logan palmed away Fuller's downward header from Lee Hendrie's dangerous free-kick two minutes later.
Hill headed high and wide from another Hendrie free-kick in the 55th minute before Fulller curled his effort just over the bar from the left hand angle.
It was end-to-end and Stearman glanced his header narrowly wide from Tiatto's free-kick on 59 minutes.
Luke Chadwick volleyed over moments later while Tiatto shot into the arms of Simonsen after Hume's cross just eluded Hughes in the area.
Fuller was handed the first caution of the night on 63 minutes before Hammond made way for Matty Fryatt.
And it was the home side who came from behind to take the lead in the 65th minute thanks to Hughes' second of the campaign.
Stearman played the ball inside to the Scot, who took one touch before driving a low angled ball past Simonsen and into the far corner of the net from 20-yards out.
Vincent Pericard replaced Chadwick on 71 minutes as the visitors pushed for an equaliser.
Hendrie put his free-kick from the edge of the area over the bar then Fuller was only denied by the crossbar with Logan simply a spectator on 75 minutes.
After Fryatt was fouled on the edge of the area, Tiatto's venomous free-kick flew narrowly over the bar as City continued in search of the clincher.
Hill was booked for a lunge on Hume two minutes from time and Tiatto and Andy Johnson followed suit, but after enduring a nervy five minutes of injury time, it was the Foxes who left the field with all three points.
City: Logan, Stearman, McCarthy ©, Kenton, Johansson, Sylla, Johnson, Hughes, Tiatto, Hume, Hammond (Fryatt 64). Subs not used: Henderson, Welsh, Low, Maybury.
Stoke: Simonsen, Hoefkins, Duberry ©, Higginbotham (Hill 45), Griffin, Chadwick (Pericard 71), Diao, Russell, Hendrie, Sidbie, Fuller. Subs not used: Bangoura, Sweeney, Brammer.
Yellow Cards
City: Tiatto (90), Johnson (90)
Stoke: Fuller (63), Hill (88)
Referee: Graham Laws (Tyne & Wear)
Attendance: 21,107
