WHEN the bulldozers finally move in to flatten Filbert Street at the end of the season it's a fair bet Graeme Souness won't be shedding any tears.

For the rest of the Premiership might have fond memories of Leicester's tired old stadium after it has become something of a happy hunting ground for away sides over the last nine months.

But as far as Souness and Rovers are concerned, they could end up having recurring nightmares about the place for years to come after this disastrous defeat put a huge dent in their survival hopes.

Desperate for points to ease the pressure at the bottom of the table, Rovers rolled into town knowing a victory against Dave Bassett's First Division-bound Foxes would edge them a step closer to safety at the start of a make-or-break Easter programme.

But by 4.45pm on Saturday night those plans were left in tatters after former Manchester City striker Paul Dickov condemned Rovers to further away-day misery with his first goals since a cut-price move from Maine Road.

Souness, understandably, was quietly seething afterwards as he pointed an accusing finger at some

of his side's defending and unless the penny drops quickly then Rovers will be joining City in the Nationwide League next season.

"Our problem is we don't defend very well," blasted Souness, as he reflected on a 10th away defeat of the season.

"The secret of any good team is you've got to be difficult to score against and this year we haven't been that and this was another classic example of that.

"For 15 minutes they had us on the rack and Brian Deane and Paul Dickov tortured us, not with any cuteness but through straight-forward in-your-face football.

"What we are guilty of is individuals making errors which are costing us games and that's been the story of our season but that's what can happen to you at the highest level."

The day had started badly enough after allegations concerning Garry Flitcroft's private life were plastered all over the front pages of the morning papers and it got progressively worse.

Dickov was the destroyer-in-chief, twice cashing in on dodgy defending from Nissa Johansson to bag two well-taken goals -- one in each half.

But the man who ultimately laid the foundations for what was the Foxes first Premiership victory since December 1 was his strike-partner Deane who bulldozered his way through Rovers' flimsy defence all too easily on the day.

"I knew what type of game Brian Deane was going to give us because I've signed him before and I've got to say I love him to bits," said Souness.

"He played very, very well, our defence found him a real handful but then he's been a real handful all his life."

Shorn of deadly duo David Dunn and Damien Duff, Rovers' two most creative forces, Souness brought back Mark Hughes in the centre of midfield, with Tugay pressed into action on the right.

By the 33rd minute, however, he was forced to return to the drawing board as the visitors were woefully off the pace.

Lacking inspiration in midfield, short of genuine width down the flanks and looking increasingly flustered at the back, the whole balance of the side felt wrong and it was only once Hughes was pushed up front and Keith Gillespie came on as a sub that Rovers started to take up the fight.

By then, though, they were already facing an uphill battle after Dickov had pounced to open the scoring after just nine minutes.

Johansson looked the favourite to clear a routine through ball but he was somehow muscled out of it by Dickov who then rounded Brad Friedel before neatly slotting home from an acute angle at the near post.

And, but for a mixture of misfortune and poor finishing, the Foxes could have been out of sight by half time.

Deane just failed to connect with a dangerous centre from the impressive Mathew Piper with the goal at his mercy.

Then Friedel denied Muzzy Izzet when the Turkish international was inexplicably allowed a free header six yards out.

Drastic action was needed in order to stem the tide so on came Gillespie and Craig Hignett, the latter replacing Yordi who picked up a nasty head injury following an accidental clash with John Ashton.

Suddenly, Rovers looked a different proposition with Gillespie in particular leading the charge down the right.

Only a smart save from Ian Walker denied Mark Hughes and Craig Hignett rapped a post from the rebound.

But an equaliser finally did materialise in the 46th minute when Hakan Unsal's inswinging free-kick was headed home emphatically by Hughes at the far post for his first Premiership goal of the season.

At that point, Leicester were rocking and seemingly there for the taking.

Gillespie sliced open the City defence once again but just failed to pick out an unmarked Hughes with his pull-back.

Then Hughes volleyed over from a Lucas Neill centre following more clever prompting on the right before he made way for Martin Taylor, but it was Dickov who had the last laugh when he bagged his second of the afternoon with 12 minutes left.

Rovers lost possession deep in their own, the impressive Robbie Savage slipped a clever ball through and Dickov accelerated past Johansson to belt the winner past Friedel.

Even then, the visitors had chances to snatch a late point as Walker denied Hignett with a super save at the far post before Flitcroft then headed wide from an inviting position in the 87th minute to sum up a thoroughly miserable day.

LEICESTER...2

ROVERS...1

Scorers: Dickov 9, 78

Scorers: Hughes 46

Attendance...16,236