Middlesbrough fell to their first home defeat of the season after a late deflected winner from Leicester City substitute Lloyd Dyer.
Former non-league striker Jamie Vardy had earlier cancelled out Nicky Bailey’s superb opener to raise the visitors to sixth in the table and five places above their latest opponents.
Recalled Boro defender Jonathan Woodgate was soon required to clear a dangerous early cross over his own crossbar while Justin Hoyte produced a full-length stop from Kasper Schmeichel in reply.
Former England striker David Nugent then had an effort deflected over by Andre Bikey before Bailey twice struck wide at the other end.
But the hosts suffered a major blow when Woodgate limped off with a suspected recurrence of a hamstring problem and was replaced by Seb Hines.
Nugent then sidefooted wide for the visitors but it was Boro going ahead early in the second-half as Bailey cracked in a tremendous 30-yard finish.
Moments later Hoyte’s cross was turned onto the crossbar by Lukas Jutkiewicz as the hosts went desperately close to doubling their lead.
It was Leicester who forced themselves back into proceedings though when Vardy took advantage of a fortunate deflection and struck a ten-yard angled finish to equalise.
Only a couple of fine saves from Boro’s Jason Steele then kept his side level before the visitors were awarded a dubious late free-kick and Dyer’s subsequent shot looped off George Friend and over the stranded keeper.
Middlesbrough: Steele, Hoyte, Woodgate (Hines 37), Amougou, Friend, Zemmama (L. Williams 63), Leadbitter, Thomson (Ledesma 69), Bailey, McEachran, Jutkiewicz
subs (unused): Leutwiler, Arca, Smallwood, Haroun
Goals: Bailey (50)
Leicester City: Schmeichel, De Laet (Moore 28), Konchesky, Morgan, St Ledger, Drinkwater, Marshall (Dyer 62), James (King 57), Knockaert, Vardy, Nugent
subs (unused): Logan, Whitbread, Waghorn, Futacs
Goals: Vardy (62), Dyer (89)
Ref: Madley
Att: 15,679
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