Leicester City striker David Nugent admitted his side had felt the pressure of being high up in the Championship after a fearful first-half performance against Watford.

Nugent scored City's only goal as they fell to their second successive defeat on Saturday.

The 2-1 loss sees them slip to fourth in the Championship table, behind Cardiff, Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace.

City made a woefully slow start to the game and found themselves 1-0 down after 15 minutes.

A second goal looked to have put the game to bed in the second half before Nugent's 71st-minute strike gave City hope of salvaging a point.

"We looked scared," said the 27-year-old, who bagged his first goal in four games.

"The first half we were terrible, simple as that. We didn't look like we wanted it. The players didn't want to get on the ball like usual and it showed.

"The gaffer told us at half-time that it wasn't acceptable, and I thought we came out in the second and put up a good fight. But we just weren't good enough.

"We never pressed from the front, we weren't picking up second balls, they were lumping balls forward and getting through one-on-one all the time.

"We knew what Watford were going to do, we've been working on it in training. We knew their wing-backs were going to push on and get possession of the ball and we just couldn't cope with it."

The striker said that the pressure of being high up in the table could have been a factor in his side's display.

"I think it might be the pressure that we are up there (in the table)," he said.

"We haven't been up there for a while, we weren't there all last season so this is the first time with this group of players.

"It's tough trying to stay up there, every team was gunning for us as we were second in the league. But we've got to be better.

"We were there for a reason so we've got to show everyone why we were there."

City had gone into the game adopting a 4-3-3 formation, with Ben Marshall and Anthony Knockaert playing as wide strikers. But the more Watford pressed, the more it turned into a 4-5-1, which often left Nugent isolated.

"It was hard up there," said Nugent. "I was playing up front on my own for a large part and, every time the ball came up, I had about four players surrounding me, so it was pretty tough.

"The gaffer picks the team and, if I'm playing up front on my own, I'll always do my best and try to score goals."

Leicester now make a tough trip to Bolton tomorrow in an attempt to get back to winning ways after their two-game slump.

Richard Cockerill says George Ford must be given more time to develop after enduring a torrid day with the boot in Leicester Tigers' 16-12 Aviva Premiership win against Northampton.

The 19-year-old missed five out of eight penalties on Saturday after starting his second game of the season at fly-half with Toby Flood away on England duty.

Ford's off-day with the boot failed to cost his side though, as Tigers still had too much for a Saints outfit that has now lost six on the trot to their bitter East Midlands rivals.

Cockerill said that, despite the hype surrounding Ford after some sensational performances last season, the teenager still had much to learn.

"George is a very good player but (against Saints) he had an off day with the boot," said Cockerill.

"He still did some very good things with ball in hand and you saw the space he created for Vereniki Goneva to set up Matt Smith's try.

"But his goal-kicking and the kicks he missed for touch were something we just have to cope with. It's just part-and-parcel of young people developing.

"I am not going to criticise or shout at him. I will put my arm around him, encourage him and he will start next week.

"He's a young lad developing. You will have these days with young players. Sometimes, they will have a bad day and his kicking was poor.

"George will be a very good player, potentially world-class. But there is a curve and he is 19, so let's let him develop at his own pace.

"He did some great things out there and he made his tackles. The one thing you expect him to do is kick his goals because he practises so hard every day.

"There will not be anyone more disappointed than George.

"He is a great kid and he will have the club's and my 100 per cent backing for his development."

Cockerill was satisfied with the win, courtesy of 11 points from Ford and Smith's try, which means his side go into the break for the LV= Cup comfortably in the top four.

"It was a game that we had to win," he said. "We were better than the result reflected and we put them under pressure for large periods of the game and got penalties for it.

"If we had kicked two or three of those penalties it would have been more comfortable."

Cockerill said that Louis Deacon left the game in the first half after a "bang on the back" and that Scott Hamilton, who was replaced by Goneva at half-time, had a slight leg injury.

A man charged with murdering a pizza takeaway owner in a robbery yesterday denied lying about his role in the crime.

Wali Khan (32) of St Stephen's Road, Highfields, Leicester, is one of three men on trial for the murder of Dogan Dogan.

Mr Dogan, 50, suffocated after he was tied up and robbed of his takings of just over £1,000, the jury at Birmingham Crown Court has been told.

Giving evidence on Friday, Mr Khan said his co defendant, Naveed Naveed, had come up with the idea to rob Mr Dogan.

Yesterday, during cross examination, Naveed's lawyer, Joanna Greenberg QC, accused Khan of telling a "pack of lies."

She challenged him about two phone calls made to Pakistan hours before and after the robbery, at Aladdin's, in Linton Street, Evington, Leicester.

Miss Greenberg said Khan was contacting a friend, who had worked at the takeaway – once to say the robbery was going to take place and later to say it had happened.

But Khan, speaking through an interpreter, said he had tried to phone his younger brother.

However, he could not explain why the number in his mobile phone log for the calls to Pakistan was virtually identical to the number the ex-pizza worker had given to police from memory.

Naveed (28), also of St Stephen's Road, and Sarwar Gader (35) of, Gleneagles Avenue, Rushey Mead, also deny murdering Mr Dogan.

Khan has admitted committing the robbery on January 8.

The trial continues.

Customers and staff at the Highcross shopping centre had to leave the building after a fire alarm sounded.

Five fire engines were called out just before 11am yesterday, and a decision was taken to clear a section of the building.

It turned out to be a false alarm, originating from a second floor lift room.

Highcross general manager Jo Tallack said the evacuated area was reopened within 30 minutes.

Melton has won a share of funding to help revitalise its high street.

The town is one of more than 300 across the country to be awarded £10,000 grant funding following shopping guru Mary Portas' review of the future of the country's high streets.

Projects which will receive funding include a Christmas shopping crawl, shop local Christmas campaigns and Market Place events to draw crowds into the town centre.

Other schemes planned include a best pub awards and an evening economy loyalty card.

Melton Business Improvement District and Melton Borough Council are working together on the project.

Rutland and Melton MP Alan Duncan said: "Anything we can do to liven up the centre of the town and attract more people to visit, socialise and shop in Melton is welcome."

Councillor Pam Posnett, the council's town centre champion, said "It will enable us to develop initiatives and continue with the success we had in our recent promotions".

As previously reported, Coalville, Earl Shilton, Hinckley, Market Harborough, Shepshed and Wigston have also received the £10,000 grants. Oakham and Uppingham, in Rutland, have received the same amount to share.

Flats above a row of shops had to be evacuated after fire broke out at a fast-food restaurant.

Up to 20 people living in The Parade, Oadby, were told to leave their homes because of the blaze at Pizza Mondo.

Firefighters were called to the pizzeria just after 7.30pm on Sunday.

A resident, who did not want to be named, said: "The emergency services got everybody out and there were 20 of us standing outside in the street.

"I couldn't see the fire but you could see smoke coming from the back of the building.

"It was a bit cold but, fortunately, after a while we were told it was safe to go back inside."

A fire service spokesman said: "The incident was caused by a piece of charcoal, used for cooking, igniting ducting leading to an extractor fan.

"No one was hurt and the fire was contained to the kitchen.

"The extractor fan was destroyed and there was smoke damage but the incident was over and firefighters left the scene at about 9pm."

The owner of the business, who did not want to be named, said: "The incident was dealt with very quickly. There were no customers in the shop at the time."

He said the takeaway would be closed until at least Thursday.

Leicester's road gritting teams were due to be out in action last night for the first time this winter.

The fleet of six gritting lorries were preparing for the first of this year's harsh weather, which forecasters were predicting for last night.

Road surface temperatures were expected to fall below 0C.

City council gritters were due to treat 283km of road – about one third of Leicester's entire network – with priority given to major roads and bus routes.

Martin Fletcher, the city's highway maintenance group manager, said: "Drivers should still take care with their journeys on Tuesday and should not assume all roads are as safe to use as they are in normal conditions.

"Pedestrians are also advised to take extra care as footways are not gritted."

Salt bins for use by the public are sited at about 300 known trouble spots across the city. The city council installed an additional 100 bins this year. For more details, visit:

www.leicester.gov.uk/gritting

Scrum-half Ben Youngs says he will "hit the ground running" this week in his attempt to make the England squad for their opening autumn international against Fiji on Saturday.

The 23-year-old played a full 80 minutes for Leicester Tigers in their 16-12 derby win against Northampton Saints at the weekend.

He had been released back to his club to prove his fitness after a hamstring strain.

Although he had to deal with a frustratingly slow ball all afternoon against Saints, Youngs was satisfied with his performance and will be doing all he can to make Stuart Lancaster's 23-man squad having re-joined the England set-up.

"It wasn't the quickest game to play in, but it was nice to be playing again after missing the match at Gloucester," he said.

"It was frustrating to play three games (on comeback from shoulder surgery) and then get a really annoying niggle.

"But my hamstring felt good and, fingers crossed, that should be the end of it.

"I wanted to play against Saints and Stuart (Lancaster) wanted me to play, too. I want to play every week, and playing for Leicester in a local derby is very exciting.

"I have played four games now this season. I will hit the ground running this week and see where I am at with England.

"I will do whatever is best for the team, whether that means starting, being on the bench or not being involved. Of course, I want to be involved all of the time, but it is Stuart's decision."

Leicester are in third place in the Aviva Premiership table following Saturday's sixth consecutive win against Saints.

Although the game failed to live up to its usual expectations, Youngs said the truncated build-up due to international call-ups did not help.

"We have been so lucky to have so many great games in the last three years between us and Saints, we were always going to get one that didn't live up to expectation," he said.

"It was a shame that the fixture fell at a time when not everyone was available. Steve Mafi was away with Tonga most of the week, Martin Castrogiovanni was away with Italy, and the England boys were away, so we only had an hour's training session to get ready for one of the biggest games of the season. That showed in the first half.

"It was frustrating. I don't know how long we spent in their 22 but we just couldn't convert. We let them off the hook a little bit, but we will take the win."

Tigers begin the defence of their LV= Cup title against Saracens at Bedford's Goldington Road ground on Friday.

Hundreds of people turned out for Humberstone Park's popular community bonfire last night.

However, the event may not be held next year if proposals to cancel funding go ahead.

Caroline Green, 42, of Anstey Lane, Leicester, who was there with her seven-year-old twins, Zach and Mason, and niece Ellie King, seven, said: "We've been coming for the past four or five years, we think it's the best one in Leicester.

"It's a really good family evening out. It would be bad news and a real shame if it didn't go ahead next year.

"I'm sure people would be prepared to pay to come to it. There isn't much going on for families these days."

Barbara Rudkin, 52, of Thurnby, was there with her daughter, Jodie Pruce, 30, and her two children Bree, three, and two-year-old Junior.

She said: "They're absolutely loving it, they're so excited.

"I'd be disappointed if it didn't go ahead next year.

"I'm sure people would be prepared to pay £1 a head if it meant keeping it going.."

Joanne Brandreth, of Northfields, who was there with eight-year-old daughter Evie, said: "I'd be gutted if it didn't happen next year. There aren't a lot of things going on in this area."

City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby has announced his intention to cease the £16,000 of council funding for the bonfire.

He said he would help volunteers apply for community forum grants to stage the event.

He said other parts of the city, such as Braunstone, hold a bonfire without council money.

More than 1,000 of the lowest paid council workers in Leicester could be in line for a wage rise.

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby says he is looking to ensure all of his staff are paid at least £7.45 an hour – the newly-set Living Wage.

The amount reflects the amount a person needs to cover basics such as food, health and accommodation, and is higher than the £6.19 minimum wage enforceable by law.

Sir Peter said it would cost £400,000 to raise the wages of 1,199 city council staff – mainly kitchen workers, cleaners and school lunchtime supervisors – who fall below that level.

Sir Peter, whose mayoral election manifesto included a promise to campaign for the Living Wage in Leicester, said: "There is a strong case for us setting an example on this.

"It will cost us £400,000. I am looking to see if I can make it part of the budget we are working on.

"But this is a time where we are facing savage Government cuts to our budget."

A week of events aimed at promoting the Living Wage began yesterday, with Labour Party leader Ed Miliband outlining plans he would put in place to make it the norm should he win the next General Election.

The proposals include only offering Government contracts to firms paying the Living Wage and naming and shaming firms and organisations that do not pay it.

Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce chief executive Martin Traynor said it should be left to firms to decide.

He said: "I have no problem with the principle but it has to be decided by the company according to what it can afford.

"The last thing we want is wage inflation, which could harm companies' recovery from the recession.

"If it becomes the difference between a company making a profit or a loss then it is a real problem."

A year ago, De Montfort University started paying its staff the then level of £7.20, upping the wage of 130 employees.

Vice-chancellor Professor Dominic Shellard said: "Paying workers enough to provide their family with the essentials of life transcends partisan politics.

"It is a fundamental responsibility of an employer and something we are proud to uphold.

"I urge all employers not to wait but to introduce the living wage as soon as possible."

Academics from Loughborough University's Centre for Research in Social Policy worked on the proposals for yesterday's announcement.

Director Donald Hirsch said: "The important thing is that there is a general sense the minimum wage is not enough and people cannot get an acceptable living standard on it.

"Our research is based not on what experts think people need but on what members of the public tell us in great detail a family needs to make ends meet.

"That doesn't mean just survival, but what you need to participate in society.

"The problem is that even though wages are not going up generally, costs are going up – often faster than inflation."

Journalist and TV presenter Hardeep Singh Kohli is putting his Indian cookery skills to the test against the country's best restaurants and takeaways, city by city.

He is confident of his culinary abilities – but reckons Leicester's eateries could be his biggest competition.

Indian Takeaway – an evening of comedy, cooking and curry – is coming to Curve theatre on December 1.

It will see the presenter ordering a takeaway – with the restaurant and dish chosen by the audience – live on stage at the start of the show.

While waiting for the order to arrive, Hardeep will cook his own version.

Speaking to the Mercury ahead of the show, he said: "The thing about Leicester is that it has some amazing Indian food so it's going to be difficult to live up to.

"There aren't that many cities that have different sorts of Indian food – Punjabi, Gujarati – like Leicester does.

"I'd say Leicester is the place I'm most worried about. Maybe Birmingham as well. I won't be able to pull the wool over people's eyes."

Hardeep, a regular host on Channel 5 current affairs show The Wright Stuff, is no stranger to cooking, having been a runner-up in the first series of Celebrity Masterchef.

His first book, Indian Takeaway, was nominated for an Independent Book Award and he has written about food for Olive, Observer Food Monthly, The Spectator, The Times and The Sunday Times. "I just love eating," he said.

"Food is a lovely way of bringing people together.

"I'm looking forward to bringing the show to Leicester. Curve is an amazing venue and my last show there was amazing, just electric. It's probably the best live gig I've done."

Earlier this month, Britain's best-known Indian chef, Madhur Jaffrey, sang the city's praises on BBC show Saturday Kitchen.

She told host James Martin she would "go straight to Leicester" for the most authentic Indian curry in the UK.

We asked staff at some of the city's Indian restaurants and takeaways to pinpoint what makes the city so special when it comes to Indian food – and for their opinion on how Hardeep will fare.

Shaf Islam, manager of Chutney Ivy, in the cultural Quarter, said: "Considering Leicester has the most Indian restaurants outside of Birmingham and London, he will have a job to match the standards we are providing.

"Leicester's diverse culture and competition makes the cuisine so special."

Bobby Singh, waiter at Shimla Pinks, in London Road, said: "He is a good chef but I'm not sure he can match Leicester's high standards.

"Our chefs have 15 to 20 years' experience in restaurants."

Pam Kooner, manager at Mem-Saab, in Highcross shopping centre, said: "We have a multi-cultural society here, even within the Indian society, with people coming from all areas of India. This is why the quality of food is so high.

"He will find it hard to live up to the quality of those dishes around Leicester."

Indian Takeaway is on at Curve on Saturday, December 1.

For tickets, call the box office on 0116 242 3560 or visit:

www.curveonline.co.uk