Ulloa secures points for Leicester
Leonardo Ulloa gave Leicester their first Barclays Premier League victory for 10 years at Stoke.
The Foxes had made an encouraging start to life back in the top flight with draws against Everton and Arsenal, and record signing Ulloa's third of the season in the 64th minute earned them a 1-0 win at the Britannia Stadium.
Stoke bossed the first half but were left to rue the lack of a cutting edge, while debutant goalkeeper Ben Hamer denied them a point with two great saves late on.
Hamer was making his Premier League bow after Kasper Schmeichel suffered a knee injury on international duty, bringing to an end the Dane's run of 141 consecutive league starts.
Stoke's match-winner against Manchester City, Mame Biram Diouf, was on the bench after his lengthy international trip with Senegal, so Bojan Krkic came into the starting line-up.
The game had barely got started when there was a lengthy stoppage after Ryan Shawcross and Jeff Schlupp accidentally clashed heads.
The Stoke skipper came off worse, sustaining a cut above his right eye, but he played on with a bandage wrapped around his forehead.
After a quiet opening, the hosts began to exert more pressure on Hamer's goal, with Steven Nzonzi the first to try his luck, but the midfielder's impressive run was not matched by his finish.
Probably the best chance of the half fell to Peter Crouch in the 18th minute, when he was picked out by Victor Moses from a corner but headed wide from eight yards.
Hamer was handling most things well, although the 26-year-old summer signing from Charlton was slightly fortunate to get away with fumbling a Jonathan Walters cross.
Leicester did not manage their first meaningful effort until the 27th minute, when Andy King let fly from 20 yards. Asmir Begovic dived but the ball was always going wide of the far post.
Two minutes later Crouch was yellow-carded for a lunging foul on David Nugent seconds after the striker was denied his own free-kick.
Crouch responded in the right manner, though, and almost added another to his collection of spectacular goals with an acrobatic volley from Glenn Whelan's cross that flew just over the bar.
The former England man was in the mood and had Hamer scrambling in the 38th minute with a shot that just missed the far post.
Leicester had been outplayed in the first half, even if the score did not reflect that, and boss Nigel Pearson made two changes for the second half.
Esteban Cambiasso, who last season made 32 appearances for Inter Milan, replaced King while Danny Drinkwater came on for Riyad Mahrez.
Cambiasso and Bojan found themselves on opposite sides again having met twice in Milan derbies in the 2012/13 Serie A season.
Bojan had been neat and tidy without making too much impact, but he showed good feet in the 52nd minute to create a shooting opportunity, only to direct his effort straight at Hamer.
Cambiasso's presence certainly seemed to help Leicester take more control of the game, and they got their reward in the 64th minute.
Ulloa and Drinkwater combined to tee up Paul Konchesky on the left, whose cross was guided home by the Argentinian striker.
It was a decent finish from Ulloa, who had to pull the ball back from behind him.
Stoke responded immediately and Bojan appealed after appearing to be tripped from behind right on the edge of the area, but referee Michael Oliver waved play on.
The Potters continued to create plenty of half-chances but the ball just would not fall for them, while Leicester defended manfully.
Diouf made his entrance in the 74th minute in place of Bojan while Jamie Vardy replaced Schlupp.
Stoke were beginning to leave gaps at the back and, after Drinkwater was denied by a combination of Begovic and two defenders, Dean Hammond saw his fierce effort fly just past the post.
Oussama Assiaid made his second Stoke debut on loan from Liverpool with eight minutes remaining but the Potters could not find a leveller.
Hamer came to his side's rescue in the 90th minute with crucial saves first from Diouf and then Moses.
Source: PA
