Argentine striker Leonardo Ulloa continued his fine start to life in the Premier League with the only goal as Leicester City beat Stoke City 1-0 at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.

The giant Ulloa, an £8 million ($13m) summer signing from second-tier Brighton and Hove Albion, netted his third goal in four appearances for the Foxes in the 64th minute to hand Nigel Pearson's side their maiden win since securing promotion in the summer.

Leicester, who had drawn with Everton and Arsenal either side of a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea in a testing start to their first Premier League campaign in a decade, move above Stoke in the table with the win in the teams' first top-flight encounter since 1985.

Mark Hughes's Stoke side had beaten champions Manchester City 1-0 away in their last outing a fortnight ago but Mame Diouf, their match-winner in that game, was only on the bench for the visit of Leicester.

The Senegal striker only returned from international duty on Friday, so Hughes opted to start the fresher Bojan Krkic instead.

For the visitors, goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was absent after injuring a knee playing for Denmark, so Ben Hamer was handed his Premier League bow.

Hamer and the Leicester defence were busy in the first half, with Peter Crouch leading the way for Stoke as Diouf watched on.

However, the former England striker was unable to produce the necessary precision in front of goal, screwing his header wide from a Victor Moses cross and then sending a spectacular volley just wide.

Crouch missed the target with another effort before the end of a first half that Stoke dominated, and Leicester boss Nigel Pearson introduced big-name summer signing veteran Argentinian Esteban Cambiasso at the break in an attempt to strengthen his midfield.

Stoke still came forward, but Hamer saved from Bojan before Ulloa, 28, showed great technique to convert a low Paul Konchesky cross from close range.

Diouf came on for the final stages but he was denied by Hamer towards the end as Leicester held on to condemn Stoke to a second defeat in as many home outings so far this season and secure their first top-flight victory since April 2004.