Leicester 1-2 Southampton: Saints battle to crucial Premier League win
By Marc Walker
Southampton battled and scrapped to a crucial 2-1 win over Leicester City on Saturday and lifted themselves out of the relegation zone in the process.
James Ward-Prowse converted an early penalty for Saints before Shane Long’s persistence paid off for him to double the lead just before half-time.
Wlfried Ndidi got a goal back as Leicester dominated the second-half but heroic Saints defending saw them take a brilliant three points.
Ahead of the game, fans were waiting to see who would be in goal and Alex McCarthy was restored to the starting line-up. Matt Targett, Shane Long and Jack Stephens all came back in with Saints struggling with a host of injuries and suspensions.
It was Saints who got a potentially priceless lead just 10 minutes in after they were awarded a penalty.
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Shane Long was taken down by home midfielder Wilfried Ndidi inside the area and spot-kick taking responsibilities went to James Ward-Prowse, who emphatically dispatched his first goal of the season despite Kasper Schmeichel guessing correctly.
It was a strong and determined first-half display from Saints who had created a couple of chances and limited Leicester for the first 30 minutes if the contest.
However, Jan Bednarek was forced to make a superb goal-line clearance to thwart Wes Morgan’s header and keep the narrow lead intact.
It looked as though the task of holding on to the win was going to be a lot harder as young full-back Yan Valery was sent off shortly before the break. Already on a yellow card, the Frenchman tugged back Marc Albrighton and was given his marching orders.
Despite this though – and much to the surprise of many Saints fans – Shane Long doubled the lead with the last action of the first period.
He took full advantage of Leicester’s inability to deal with a bouncing ball and stole into the box to finish under the advancing Schmeichel. Saints now had something hang onto, but it was going to prove challenging with a man less.
12 minutes into the second-half, Leicester got a goal back to make it a nervous final 30 for Saints. Ricardo Pereira advanced to the goalline and pulled a low cross back for Ndidi to convert fairly fortunately with his knee.
It proved to be a long half for Saints who were forced to defend for their lives and sacrifice attacking attempts of their own to hold onto their precious lead.
It was Leicester who had all of the ball and all of the meaningful attacks. Jamie Vardy, who had been starved of service all afternoon, flicked a header wide before James Maddison curled a strike over from just outside the area.
The Saints defending was heroic though and they were able to see out a crucial win with a number of vital blocks and clearances as the hosts piled on the pressure.
The result lifts them out of the relegation zone and up to 16th ahead of more favourable fixtures.