Leicester just about kept Miles Benjamin out, and their resilience was rewarded when Flood cut the gap to one point during first-half injury-time despite his side being down to 14 men with Jordan Crane in the sin-bin.
Bath then suffered a blow as Abendanon was sin-binned for taking out Tom Varndell as he chased his own chip ahead and Cipriani hit the post when he attempted to cut the gap to a nine-point margin.
Second-placed Werder Bremen can cut the gap on Jupp Heynckes' unbeaten side to one point with victory at Cologne on Sunday, having been joined on 27 points by Bayern Munich -- who defeated Borussia Moenchengladbach 2-1 on Friday night.