Deane's set-piece skills keep Leicester flying high

Leicester City 4 Bradford City

Leicester stayed on the coat-tails of the First Division leaders, Portsmouth, as goals by Brian Deane, Matt Elliott, Paul Dickov and James Scowcroft maintained their 100 per cent record at the new Walkers Stadium, which has now witnessed five wins in five matches from the side that finished bottom of the Premiership last season.

Two set piece goals in as many minutes midway through the first half put Leicester in control, leaving Bradford with everything to do, even though they had been playing the neater football.

Muzzy Izzet's corner from the left led to the opener after 26 minutes, Bradford striker Ashley Ward's attempt to defend the near post effectively resulting in an own goal, the ball skimming off the top of his head before Deane – on the goal line with goalkeeper Aidan Davison – added the final touch.

Scarcely 60 seconds later, a deeper corner from the right was met by Frank Sinclair with a downwards header that spun off a Bradford defender to the feet of Elliott, who back-heeled home from a couple of feet out.

It was tough on Bradford who had otherwise limited the home side to a handful of attacks on the break, cutting off the creative flow from Leicester's midfield. Peter Atherton almost grabbed a lifeline for the visitors with a shot that dipped late with Ian Walker beaten, but the Bradford player's looping effort drifted over the bar before a third Leicester goal ensured there was no way back.

Dickov, who had already had one goal ruled out for offside and seen a shot tipped over by Davison, slotted home from the penalty spot after being pulled down by Robert Molenaar, who had moments earlier been booked for a foul on the same player. Scowcroft added a fourth for Leicester in stoppage time.

The only disappointment for the hosts was that both Sinclair and Dickov now face suspension after each received his fifth booking of the season.

Leicester City (4-4-2): Walker; Impey, Elliott. Sinclair, Davidson; Scowcroft, Izzet, McKinlay (Lewis, 76), Rogers (Reeves, 70); Dickov, Deane (Summerbee, h-t). Substitutes not used: Heath, Benjamin.

Bradford City (4-4-2): Davison; Uhlenbeek, Molenaar, Bower, Myers; Gray (Evans, 61), Atherton (Standing, 69), Warnock, Cadamarteri; Ward (Carricondo, 82), Proctor. Substitutes not used: Banks, Jacobs.

Referee: M Fletcher (Worcestershire).