Aiyegbeni Yakubu gave the Foxes a first half lead after good play from Sol Bamba. The visitors clawed their way back into the contest on the hour mark via a Marvin Elliott header.
But, just as Bristol City looked to have secured the most unlikely of points, Martyn Waghorn fired a stunning injury time winner past David James to hand the Foxes their seventh win in eight outings.
Sven Goran-Eriksson opted for the same staring eleven that breezed past Derby County last Saturday as the Foxes looked set for a repeat performance.
Leicester showed their attacking intent from the first whistle and Everton loanee Yakubu – who scored a stunning goal against the Rams on Saturday – nearly gave City the lead after just two minutes.
Kyle Naughton used his pace and trickery to find the space to square the ball across goal, Yakubu ran onto the ball but fired his effort high and wide.
The early attack proved to be a false dawn however, as the visitors began to slow down proceedings.
However, Leicester continued to display quality passing football with the likes of Darius Vassell and King linking up well, whilst Van Aanholt and Naughton posed a constant threat on the wings.
An impressive passage of play involving one touch passing culminated in Van Aanholt whipping an inch perfect ball into the path of Paul Gallagher, but the striker’s well struck effort brought out the best of David James, with the former England ‘keeper tipping the ball around the post.
Leicester’s early pressure paid off eventually though, and it was inevitable that Yakubu would get the goal.
The Nigerian forward won a corner on 20 minutes. Gallagher swung the ball to the back post where Sol Bamba connected with a fine header that James did well to save. Bamba ran onto the rebound and produced a quality turn to find space to smash the ball across goal. This time James could do nothing to prevent Yakubu guiding the ball home to hand the Foxes a deserved lead.
Leicester were reminded of Bristol City’s presence minutes later when they responded with a hopeful free kick from 30 yards out. The ball was headed goalwards but floated wide of Ricardo’s post. The Foxes had been warned.
Yakubu and Andy King showed real quality when they combined together. Yakubu picked the ball up from King and played the ball back into the midfielder’s path. King raced onto the ball but his shot was well blocked by the onrushing David James.
The veteran ‘keeper was putting in an exceptional display to keep the visitors within touching distance as the Foxes continued to flood forward in search of more goals.
After the break the away side started the brighter and, but for an unfortunate slip at the crucial moment, Adomah would have tested Ricardo in the Leicester goal.
Bristol City continued to dominate play in and around the Leicester penalty area but Sol Bamba and Ben Mee looked comfortable and assured at the back.
However, a rare lapse in concentration gave the Robbins the equaliser on 57 minutes.
The away side looked threatening from set plays all evening and eventually a flag kick brought maximum reward for the visitors.
Marvin Elliott evaded the attention of the City defence to head the ball powerfully into the roof of the net, suddenly Bristol City were in the ascendancy.
Adomah’s pace for the visitors continued to cause problems for Van Aanholt and the winger was beginning to win the nights contest out on the touchline.
The winger picked the ball up 20 yards from goal, he wrong-footed Van Aanholt and found space to shoot wickedly at goal. Ricardo stood firm though and palmed the ball away as the pressure began to tell for the Foxes.
The Foxes had a golden opportunity to regain the lead on 70 minutes when a Bristol City attack was broken up and Leicester flew up the pitch with Naughton on the ball. The full back sent the ball across goal into the path of Dyer. But, Oakley ran onto the ball and fired a weak effort straight at James.
Five minutes later, the home side thought they had scored again. This time Wellens sent an out-swinging ball to the far post. Sol Bamba cushioned his header into the path of Ben Mee, but the defender’s header was too weak to trouble James, who depicted a giant between the sticks for the visitors.
Bristol City’s hopes of a late winner looked solely in the hands of Adomah as the winger caused all sorts of problems for the Foxes defence.
First the winger beat Van Aanholt to send a fierce ball across goal, but Ricardo was able to tip the ball away to safety. Then, Adomah used his pace and intelligence to again beat Van Aanholt and cut inside onto his left foot. But his shot flew wide of Ricardo’s post.
The Foxes ended the match the stronger and threw men forward desperately searching for a winner.
And, in truly dramatic fashion, Leicester finally got their reward, albeit from a huge slice of luck and a strike of the highest quality.
As Leicester continued to flood the box and send long balls up, the visitors sensed an opportunity to flood forward on the break. However, a hasty clearance deflected off skipper Matt Oakley and into the path of substitute Martyn Waghorn. The striker latched onto the ball and smashed a right foot effort that even David James could do nothing about.
The win sees Sven Goran-Eriksson’s men edge to within one point of the play-offs whilst they are now just four points away from the top two.