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Milan Mandaric, the Leicester City owner, has had some trying times at the Walkers Stadium over the past 19 months. Managers have departed with alarming regularity to accompany their slide into Coca-Cola League One, but finally the portents for the Serbian-American businessman are looking brighter.

A place in the top two of the table and the rehabilitation of Matty Fryatt, the striker, under the calm guidance of Nigel Pearson, the club’s seventh manager of Mandaric’s tenure, is reason enough for optimism to replace the doom that has engulfed the club in the past two seasons as Leicester attempt to make it a short exile from the Championship.

Fryatt was anonymous last season but his two goals on Saturday took his tally to four in three games, one more than he managed in the whole of the last campaign. His rebirth as a striker of genuine goal threat, to add to the mix of Paul Dickov, DJ Campbell and Steve Howard, who put Leicester on the road to success against Tranmere Rovers, will be the biggest comfort to Mandaric and Co.

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Similarly for the man himself as he attempts to make up for the disappointment of relegation. “It is going really well so far this season, Steve is playing really well and our partnership is developing, but there is competition all the time,” Fryatt said. “Paul Dickov is a fan favourite and he’s getting back to full fitness. I’m sure there will be times when all the players will be needed this season.”

Fryatt sealed all three points for Leicester in stoppage time, looping a header into the net after a goalmouth scramble. Earlier he had glanced in a Max-Alain Gradel free kick after Howard opened the scoring.

Chris Shuker gave Leicester a few moments of concern with his goal for the visiting team and Ronnie Moore, the manager, was far from displeased. “We have to learn to defend set- pieces, but to match a side that will be challenging for promotion for long periods is encouraging,” he said.

Leicester City (4-4-2): D Martin — K Gilbert, J Hobbs, M Morrison, L Dyer — M Gradel (sub: N Adams, 57min), M Oakley, A King, L Porter (sub: P Dickov, 64) — M Fryatt, S Howard. Substitutes not used: P Henderson, R Kishishev, D Campbell. Booked: Fryatt.

Tranmere Rovers (4-4-2): D Coyne — G Edds, B Chorley, I Goodison, A Taylor — S Jennings, A Kay, G O’Callaghan (sub: C Shuker, 61), E Sonko (sub: C Greenacre, 61) — B Savage, C Curran. Substitutes not used: J Achterberg, D Holmes, C Barnett. Booked: G O’Callaghan.

Referee: P Crossley. Att: 17,798.