Leicester deep the relegation dogfight after loss at Southampton

Dogged Southampton hauled themselves off the bottom of the Premier League table and in so doing pulled a wasteful Leicester City side further into relegation trouble.

Carlos Alcaraz, Saints’ 20-year-old Argentinian, scored the crucial first-half goal and injured himself badly enough in celebrating that his contribution to the second half was brief.

But more significantly for Leicester, their striker Kelechi Iheanacho missed three huge chances that enabled Southampton to gain only their second home Premier League victory of the season and move above Bournemouth.

The visitors might have scored at the death, but Harry Soutter’s header thundered against the bar.

Neither set of supporters would have needed much of a lingering glance at the league table – and their own recent form – to realise the significance of this fixture.

Not only did Southampton begin the day at the bottom, five points from the safety of 17th place, but their paltry accumulation of just six points from home games was the most mearge in the top four divisions.

Leicester, though, had stumbled back towards the lower reaches after back-to-back defeats to Manchester United and Arsenal, and, like their hosts, they had suffered an embarrassing FA Cup home defeat in midweek at the hands of lower level opposition.

While the Foxes’ loss to Blackburn Rovers was less humiliating than the Saints’ humbling at the hands of Grimsby, it made for a opening where fault lines were clear.

Southampton opened up Leicester’s defence in the sixth minute, but Theo Walcott’s shot from inside the penalty area lacked conviction.

Leicester responded with a period of pressure and might have gone ahead when a deft pass from James Maddison – restored to the team after missing the defeat to Arsenal through illness – gave Ricardo Pereira an opportunity.

The Portuguese defender had time to consider various options, but chose to aim for the far corner and was well wide.

Southampton had only scored 19 league goals – only Everton are less productive – but whilst Leicester had a healthier 36 in their tally, they are by no means ruthless in front of goal.

When Maddison curled in a high velocity free-kick, Kelechi Iheanacho had a broad target to aim at from six yards, but somehow managed to put his header well wide.

The reprieve might have proved far more expensive had Danny Ward not produced a wonderful save to deny James Ward-Prowse from the penalty spot just past the half hour mark.

Timothy Castagne was judged to have blocked Walcott’s cross with his arm, but although Ward-Prowse’s kick was low and firm, it was turned away superbly by Wales international Ward.

There was nothing Ward could do just a minute later, though, when a swift Southampton counter exposed Leicester’s static defence and Carlos Alcaraz drilled a shot into the far corner to give Southampton a 1-0 lead.

It needed a VAR check to ensure Che Adams was onside, but Southampton clung to their priceless breakthrough and Leicester offered little in response before the half-time break.

Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers replaced the anonymous Harvey Barnes with Dennis Praetv at the interval and the reward should have been instant.

Praet’s cross found Iheanacho unmarked, again, inside the goalmouth but his aim was wayward for a second time.

At least Rodgers could content himself with the fact that his team had reasserted their dominance and possession, although Iheanacho was soon to frustrate him manager again.

When Southampton played themselves into trouble, the Leicester striker was given another gift, but this time shot wastefully over with only the goalkeeper to beat.