Pearson hails Foxes hitman

Nigel Pearson saluted the work ethic of David Nugent after the Leicester striker scored the first hat-trick of his career against Hull.

The victory, against Pearson's former club, maintained the Foxes 100 per cent home record and lifted them to seventh in the Championship table. Nugent, who scored the 100th League goal of his career against Burnley on Wednesday night, struck the Foxes' opener in the seventh minute after Danny Drinkwater's shot had landed at his feet. But against the run of play, Hull equalised in the 25th minute when Sone Aluko set up Jay Simpson for a simple goal. Nugent headed Leicester in front again from a Anthony Knockaert cross just before half-time and completed his treble with a clinical finish in stoppage time. Leicester boss Pearson said: "I think it was a deserved win. We were the better side all through the game and dominated the second half in terms of territorial advantage. Four home wins in a row is obviously very pleasing but clearly we need to get our away form going. "But when you look at it in it's entirety it is 12 points from seven games in a very tough start to the season, and we could easily be three or four points better off. I think our performances in general have been very good. In the away games we have been a bit unfortunate or careless, and we need to try to rectify that. "It was good for Nugent to get the hat-trick and he proved you have just got to keep working hard when things are not going your way. Strikers thrive on confidence and we got the result we deserved."