Gary Rowett wants Leicester to kick on after much-needed win over Bristol City

Leicester manager Gary Rowett is hopeful the 2-0 victory over Bristol City that moved them out of the Championship relegation places can be a springboard for a successful end to the season.

First-half goals from Ben Nelson and Abdul Fatawu ended a winless league run dating back to January 5. It was also Leicester’s first clean sheet in the Championship since September 20.

The Foxes will be relying on results going their way on Wednesday night to stay out of the drop zone but Rowett, appointed last month, was pleased with his side’s performance.

He said: “We ticked a few boxes tonight – a clean sheet and we won the game. It was super important to get that one to build everyone’s confidence on what we are doing.

“Clearly the team should have more confidence from that, it shows they can do it so it gets that box ticked when it had been a while.

“That feeling in the stadium when the fans see the team doing everything it can to keep a clean sheet and win, that helps everybody – it was big for us.

“The crowd got behind us superbly and who doesn’t want that? Who doesn’t want a full stadium singing and everybody going home seeing a team that desperately wants to win?

“I did remind the players that good teams go and do it again and again and again. It is one win but it shows a nice clear pathway of what’s required.”

Nelson headed Leicester in front from a free-kick in the 13th minute, with Fatawu doubling the lead in the 28th minute with a well-executed volley.

Emil Riis saw a second-half penalty saved as Bristol City recorded a third successive defeat in league action as well as having been knocked out of the FA Cup by Port Vale last week.

That has dented the Robins’ hopes of making the play-offs for a second successive season and head coach Gerhard Struber was annoyed.

He said: “It is a really painful realisation at the moment with our performance.

“I would say I am not disappointed – I am really angry with how we played football below our standard, our typical profile.

“I cannot be happy, it is unacceptable that we had a performance in the first half like that. I missed the aggression, the intensity and also the directness.

“We have to be much better in the opponent’s third. The second half was much better and we had chances but we could not use it.

“I am disappointed in how we dealt in big moments with chances and also how cheaply we give away goals.”