MATT ELLIOTT secured Leicester City's Premiership survival with a goal after 86 minutes to clinch victory against Sheffield Wednesday at Filbert Street last night.
Centre back Elliott capped a fine match when he struck four minutes from time with a shot on the turn to end a run of nine matches without a win for Martin O'Neill's side.
The final whistle was greeted with jubilant scenes and Leicester finally paraded the League Cup they had won against Middlesbrough three weeks ago.
But defeat dented Wednesday's UEFA Cup hopes after they had looked likely to claim a hard-earned point from a drab encounter. They have now handed the European initiative to Aston Villa, who will make sure of a place in Europe for the second successive season if they avoid defeat against visiting Southampton on Sunday.
Sheffield, for whom Benito Carbone provided most inspiration, opened brightly. Carbone sent a 20-yard cross-shot just wide and then picked out Andy Booth with a left wing centre which the striker headed past the post when well- placed.
But Leicester, with Elliott posing problems when he ventured forward, gradually wrested the initiative away from Wednesday, although they had to wait 20 minutes to produce their first on target effort - a Garry Parker free-kick easily held by Kevin Pressman.
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