A ninth-placed finish in the Championship last season would have given Leicester City fans optimism of a promotion challenge in 2012-13.

The Foxes made several exciting additions over the course of the summer, with Manchester United duo Ritchie de Laet and Matthew James moving to the King Power Stadium along with Fleetwood Town's highly-rated striker Jamie Vardy.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at how Leicester recovered from a poor start to the season to become a regular fixture at the top of the Championship table.

August

Wes Morgan and Andy King scored the goals as Leicester began the season with a 2-0 triumph against Peterborough United.

Three days later, King scored again but he was unable to prevent his side losing 2-1 at Charlton Athletic.

Vardy netted his first goal for the club but Leicester lost 2-1 at Blackburn Rovers before they were dumped out of the Capital One Cup by Burton Albion.

September

Leicester began September with a narrow 1-0 victory over Blackpool but they failed to capitalise on an out-of-form Wolverhampton Wanderers, who recorded a 2-1 win.

Speculation regarding the future of manager Nigel Pearson surrounded the King Power Stadium but back-to-back wins over Burnley and Hull City eased the pressure on the Foxes boss.

A late Lloyd Dyer goal secured a 2-1 win over Middlesbrough at the end of the month.

October

Anthony Knockaert scored twice against Huddersfield Town as Leicester won for the fourth game in a row before a fifth straight success was secured when they defeated Bristol City 2-0.

Leicester were held at Birmingham City to halt their winning run but they got back on track with a 1-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion.

The end of the month saw the Foxes lose their first game in nine when they succumbed 2-1 to Crystal Palace.

November

Leicester suffered a second defeat, this time at Watford, as their time at the top of the table began to lose momentum, but they won a well-earned point with a goalless draw at Bolton Wanderers in their next match.

A draw at home to rivals Nottingham Forest meant the Foxes had now failed to win in four games but they got back to winning ways when David Nugent scored twice in a 6-0 demolition of Ipswich Town.

A comfortable 2-0 success at Sheffield Wednesday followed, but a second trip to Yorkshire to face Leeds United ended in a 1-0 defeat.

December

Nugent scored twice as Leicester impressively beat Derby 4-1 before a late Vardy goal recovered a point for the Foxes against Barnsley.

A 1-0 defeat to Millwall wasn't ideal preparation for Leicester's top-of-the-table clash with Cardiff City and a Craig Bellamy goal ensured that the Welsh club sealed the points at the King Power Stadium.

A Boxing Day draw with Hull City saw Leicester fall to fifth place in the Championship table.