Leicester Away
Manager Koeman seems to have fallen into a couple of defensive systems, one at home and one away. So it was that the five at the back ploy was chosen to take on Leicester, and they were needed to keep the league leaders at bay in the opening exchanges. Saints survived thanks largely to the tackling of Wanyama and the industry of Clasie, and having done so, the full backs were then given more scope to develop into wing backs. In fact Saints had the most of the last hour or so of the game and they certainly carved out the first clear opportunity when Pellè sent Mané clear. The forward chose to take the ball round Schmeichel which he did with some ease, but then saw his shot hit the covering Simpson. Now, it was obvious that Simpson’s arm had made the block, and although the player says it was not an unnatural movement, he could have managed to get his limb out of the way, but with a goal resulting – there ought to be a price for not doing so, but the only cost to the home side was a corner. The incident soon proved crucial when Morgan continued to lurk up front after a set piece, a move which Saints didn’t cover, with the result that Clasie ended up marking the centre back when Fuchs’s cross came in, and with an inevitable result. Tadić came on for Targett at the break, but it was another difficult opening to the half for Saints who were again grateful to Wanyama, this time with a ‘one for the team’ booking that might have brought greater punishment from referee Oliver and heaven knows how long a ban. This season’s Leicester team has achieved more than the sum of its parts suggests, and that’s largely due to the resilience they showed when overcoming a deficit at St. Mary’s and then in this game when protecting Schmeichel – only Forster had any memorable saves to make, and they were spectacular, including one to save Fonte from an og. Southampton’s final approaches were poor so on came Ward-Prowse for better delivery and Austin for his striker’s intuition, but the best we could do was another penalty claim, turned down as usual.
LSSC Man of the Match: Victor Wanyama, but he was well supported by Clasie.
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