Southampton 1-1 Leicester: Foxes drop points in the race for Champions League against 10-man Saints

We all know how it went the last time Leicester City rocked up at St Mary’s Stadium on a Friday night: Southampton lost a player to a red card and they proceeded to concede nine goals.

This time it was Leicester’s turn to leave as the embarrassed party. Southampton’s players battled their way to a point, despite losing Jannik Vestergaard to a straight red after 10 minutes for bringing down Jamie Vardy as the striker looked to break through on goal.

They even took a surprise second-half lead via a James Ward-Prowse penalty. Only a Jonny Evans equaliser denied Southampton the perfect redemption story, but Ralph Hasenhuttl was happy to take a point. You would be, too, after what happened last time. 

It was a frustrating evening at the office for Leicester as they drew 1-1 with Southampton

Jonny Evans ensured Leicester avoided total disaster with an equaliser in the 68th minute

Evans’ header just about beats Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy at St Mary’s

‘How we bounced back, it was amazing,’ Hasenhuttl said. ‘They had 80 minutes to score against us. I had a very good feeling before the game. We were really motivated. Defensively, this was one of our best games.’

Hasenhuttl wasn’t so pleased with the red, however, feeling Vestergaard got the ball and that Vardy was never going to go on to score. ‘It changed everything,’ the Southampton boss said.

Elton John’s I’m Still Standing was fittingly blasted out of the tannoys at full time. Southampton’s players stood tall and showed the character they lacked in that Premier League defeat in October 2019. Leicester’s players didn’t and Brendan Rodgers was less than pleased.

This moved them eight points clear of fifth-placed West Ham, but it ought to have been 10.

‘I don’t think we did enough to win the game,’ said a frustrated Rodgers. ‘A great opportunity against 10 men and we’re normally very good at that. Give credit to Southampton. They defended deep and compact but we’re disappointed.’  

Southampton’s 10 men did go ahead through a penalty from James Ward-Prowse

The England international is mobbed by his team-mates after putting Southampton ahead

Ward-Prowse struck from the spot after Kelechi Iheanacho’s handball for a shock lead 

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side are almost certainly safe from relegation, putting in a spirited display

It wasn’t the greatest spectacle when these sides met in the FA Cup’s semi finals two weeks ago, when they managed only a single shot on target between them.

The only blessing was that Kelechi Iheanacho scored with that attempt, ensuring those poor souls tuning in did not have to endure another 30 minutes of extra time.

There were no signs of this being a boring watch, however. Kyle Walker-Peters scored inside three minutes, only for the assistant to flag him offside. Nathan Tella then had a glorious chance to get his first Southampton goal but the 21-year-old didn’t connect with the ball properly.

The opening 10 minutes had been all Southampton, then the hosts lost Vestergaard.

Stuart Armstrong played a pass to the centre back, who miscontrolled the ball 20 yards out and central to goal. In a frantic attempt at getting it back, he lunged and caught Vardy on his left ankle.

Television replays showed Vestergaard got the ball, but he also got Vardy. Referee Robert Jones produced a red card and VAR Jonathan Moss concurred that Leicester had been denied a goalscoring opportunity. 

Jannik Vestergaard was sent-off after nine minutes, making Saints’ task extremely difficult

Vestergaard’s red was another disappointing decision, as the defender had got the ball first 

In the 30th minute, there was a break in play while Wesley Fofana broke his fast. Fofana is one of many Muslim footballers observing Ramadan, meaning he had not eaten or drank anything ahead of this match. Some fluids and a bite of a banana later, the game was ready to restart.

Southampton were happy to wait. They wanted to slow down the tempo of this match as much as possible, with goalkeeper Alex McCarthy taking an age at each goal kick.

The 10-man hosts were frustrating the visitors. Leicester were having to try their luck from distance and McCarthy was more than happy to face those sorts of shots.

The half-time debate was about the Vestergaard dismissal. Speaking on Sky Sports, Jamie Redknapp insisted it wasn’t a foul. ‘It’s the follow-through,’ Redknapp said, pointing to the incident involving West Ham’s Fabian Balbuena last week.  

Jamie Vardy looked bright but Leicester struggled to break down Southampton’s defence

Iheanacho was kept quiet for most of the match, but made up for his handball with an assist

Balbuena’s red was overturned on appeal, and Southampton may wish to complain to the authorities about this one, too.

The game restarted and Hasenhuttl was getting agitated on the touchline as Southampton struggled to get a decision out of the referee. He changed his tune in the 58th minute when Jones pointed to the penalty spot after a rare attack from the hosts.

An attempt on goal by Stuart Armstrong had been blocked by the outstretched arms of Iheanacho. Ward-Prowse stepped up and buried the ball in the bottom left corner. 

Suddenly Southampton had a lead to defend – but they lost it within seven minutes. Iheanacho, making up for his handball, crossed for Evans, who headed in the equaliser.

Hasenhuttl shouted a curse word in his native language. Southampton’s players still had a point to defend, though, and they reverted to their time-wasting tactics, much to Leicester’s annoyance.

Vardy could have won it in the final 10 minutes but was denied by McCarthy’s legs, then Wilfred Ndidi dragged another opportune shot wide. Leicester couldn’t find the breakthrough, and Southampton had a deserved point. 

Leicester currently sit third, five points clear of Chelsea in fourth who have a match in hand 

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