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The reshuffled pack saw Davis revert to centre half, Arthur plus white boots appeared in an uncustomary role at left back. In the midfield Weller and Little were given starts with Blake and Ian Moore making up the strike force, Gareth Taylor sitting out the first of two games due to suspension.
For the visitors, a team comprising recognised names made for a pleasant change and a formidable line up was before the Clarets in what was to prove an entertaining, physical and competitive game played at a brisk pace throughout its ninety four minutes.
Breaking with recent tactics, Clarets elected to play into feet in an intriguing first half, where the lively Blake and Moore pitted their wits against the LG's blue brick wall that was Taggart and Elliott. Leicester's ploy was less subtle and the long ball to Deane and flick ons to Dickov looked to be a serious threat, Davis coming an uncomfortable second as he challenged the aerial superiority of Deane.
Clarets best move in the game came on seventeen minutes, when Ian Moore, breaking quickly, shot first time at a surprised Ian Walker after a great pass from Weller put him into the area. On twenty minutes the threat of Deane was removed, courtesy of an injury and he was replaced by livewire Nicky Summerbee.
Half way through the half and the Blake/Moore combination linked well, though Moore's neat twist and turn deserved a better finish than his wasteful shot wide. Slack, casual defending from an otherwise impressive Arthur, allowed the livewire to put over a dangerous low cross which deceived a gazing Marlon at his near post, thankful to see the ball pass across his six yard area, with no one on hand to tap home.
Ten minutes from the break and an incisive pass from Little following his good run put Blake into the area. Having turned his man to create the opening, he should have done much better than find the tunnel with another careless shot from a good position, Stan's pre-match calls for ruthless finishing presumably falling on deaf ears, Davis following suit with a shot wide from a free kick twenty five yards from Walkers shot free goal.
With Davis and Diallo partnering well, Leicester's threat came from the wings and this was typified by Summerbee as he cruised by Briscoe's desperate tackle on the touchline to then fire a great low cross that Dickov connected with, but could not direct the shot into the goal, the ball thankfully creeping by the unguarded far post. The half closed with Ian Moore's sidewinder like run at goal, Clarets ending the half looking the more likely of the two sides to score the important first goal.
Grant replaced Briscoe at the start of the second half in which Clarets enjoyed a bright opening spell of attack minded play. Impey's attempted decapitation of Cook went unpunished and Blake's lack of inches prevented his scoring, as a bouncing ball in the six yard area eluded his outstretched foot only for the grateful Walker to collect and clear the danger. Marlon was briefly called into action parrying away a powerful shot in a brief breakaway, before Alan Moore replaced a tiring Cook ten minutes in.
Cutting through the back of Dickov, saw a rare and undisputed booking for Diallo and likewise Mr Kaye didn't have to think too hard about Davidson's similar challenge on Ian Moore moments later, a spate of crunching tackles underlining the competitive nature of this match.
Blake's shot from the resulting free kick clipped the roof of the netting, despite Leicester's wall being only eight yards away. Good covering from Davis and Diallo again kept the Foxes at bay as the game swung excitingly from end to end, Dickov the next to be booked after he was embarrassed by the nifty footwork of Arthur enjoying his role as the new left back.
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McKinlay was replaced by another brick outhouse in the shape of Benjamin, Micky Adams clearly wishing to see more from his strike force as the game entered its final stage, but it was the Clarets who were next to threaten, though once again Blake's finish from Little's pass left a lot to be desired in the accuracy department.
Good covering at the back, this time by West saw him relieve Davis after the Skip had misjudged a header before Impey made way for Sinclair.
With ten minutes to go Leicester grabbed a somewhat undeserved lead from a left sided corner, Dickov tapping home from a yard after Marlon had failed to hold the loose ball.
Immediately, Stan swapped the white boots of Arthur for the silver ones of Papa, but within two minutes Leicester's doubled their lead in a repeat corner move, this time Benjamin nipping in front of a sleeping Marlon to head home from close range.
Clarets continued to try and salvage something from the game and with a bit of help from own goal specialist Frank Sinclair, a consolation was gifted in the final minute of the game. Rather than wait for the Foxes wall to retreat from a free kick to its required distance, Steve Davis' quickly taken short free kick bypassed the wall allowing Little to cross hard and low where Frank duly obliged with a misplaced clearance and hey presto we have a goal.
There were still justifiable claims for a late, late penalty, but Izzett got an Itisnt decision from Mr Kaye who preferred to blow for time instead of a possible spot kick, the Clarets trooping off to much deserved applause after this encouraging display, their first and only defeat to one of last season’s relegated sides.
Att:- 14,554 (82% attending)
Star Gazer
Marlon Beresford. Another game, another collection of errors for the off form keeper. Got away with one lapse in the first half, but punished in the second when failures to deal with dead ball situations cost Clarets the points.
Glass Half Empty
Having had the better of the chances, all shots bar one troubled only the advertising boards and those in the lower tiers of the stands in a game where clear cut chances were few and far between. All Clarets neat approach play was undone by a clear lack of a cutting edge in the opposition penalty area. Why don't shooting boots come in Clarets' sizes? Andy Payton where are you?
Star Geezer
Robbie Blake. Despite peppering everything but the goal with his shots, Blake were his socks off, his superb close control and turns creating many options going forwards and his link play with Little at times began to resemble the early season success.
Glass Half Full
If only Clarets could raise their energy levels and play like this against the bottom sides. If only Clarets could be as competitive against sides from the middle of the table. If only Clarets could play as competitively as this consistently. If only.