Full-time: Bristol Rovers 0 Leicester City 1. Rickie Lambert's penalty miss for Bristol Rovers proved costly as Matt Fryatt won the battle of League One's top scorers with the goal that decided the game – and helped set a new club record for Leicester City on their first visit to the Memorial Stadium.

The Foxes made it 20 games unbeaten – their longest-ever run without defeat – after Fryatt netted his 26th goal of the campaign before the break to settle the outcome.

Rovers must be sick of the sight of the Foxes marksman, who had scored twice in the last three minutes when Leicester won their November meeting 2-1 at the Walkers Stadium.

His latest goal stemmed from a dubious free-kick after Craig Hinton was penalised when making only minor contact with the visitors' top scorer.

But when the ball was played out to Lloyd Dyer on Leicester's left flank, Steve Howard nodded down the cross and Fryatt stole in to flick his shot over keeper Steve Phillips and into the net.

Rovers had named the same side that had started the 3-0 midweek win over Yeovil Town, Lambert again named among the substitutes as Jo Kuffour and Darryl Duffy continued their partnership up front.

But the two strikers found it hard to create chances against the meanest defence in the division.

Rovers made a double change at the break with Lambert and Craig Disley replacing David Pipe and Jeff Hughes.

And the Pirates had a great chance to level in the 55th minute when the visitors were reduced to 10 men.

Lambert was involved in a neat build-up and Kuffour's ball towards Duffy saw the Scot taken out by defender Jack Hobbs, who was red-carded. Lambert took the resulting spot kick but saw keeper Mark Bunn – on loan from Blackburn – dive to his right to save the shot.

Though the home side pressed hard after that, they were unable to break down the visitors, who could have doubled their lead after 61 minutes when substitute Tom Cleverley broke through but failed to beat Phillips from 18 yards with a weak shot.

And it took a crucial challenge by Steve Elliott to prevent Howard netting a goal on the break late in the game.

Bristol Rovers: Phillips, R Green, Hinton (Jacobson, 77), Elliott, Lescott, Pipe (Disley 46), Lines, Campbell, Hughes (Lambert 46), Kuffour, Duffy. Subs (not used): Anthony, St Louis-Hamilton.

Leicester City: Bunn, Gilbert, Hobbs, Brown, Mattock, Oakley (Cleverley 25), King, Berner, Dyer (Morrison 57), Howard, Fryatt. Subs (not used): Pentney, Hayles, Dickov.

Att: 9,138.