Southampton 1-1 Leicester: Foxes drop points in the race for Champions League football as they can only manage a draw against 10-man Saints with Jonny Evans' header cancelling out James Ward-Prowse's penalty after Jannik Vestergaard saw red
- Jannik Vestergaard was shown a highly contentious red card in the 10th minute
- The Foxes struggled to break the 10-men Saints down, going in 0-0 at the break
- Kelechi Iheanacho then handled to allow James Ward-Prowse to score from spot
- Jonny Evans responded with a close-range header minutes later to equalise
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.
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‘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.’
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.
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.
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.
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Jonathan Spencer Host commentator
What a brilliant effort from Southampton. Down to 10-men before they'd completed nine minutes, but a brilliant defensive display seals a well-earned point.
That could prove very costly for the Foxes in their Champions League bid. A big two points dropped ahead of some tough games coming up. If it does... a bit of revenge for the 9-0?
Leicester have three minutes to find a crucial winner now. Southampton's objective is clear, as Armstrong uses-up a Saints counter-attack by holding the ball in the corner for a few seconds.
Leicester are just pouring forward now. Southampton hanging-on for dear life.
Vardy does well on the left to cut in and lay-off for Ndidi, who goes for power and gets right over the ball, but sends the shot flashing the wrong wide of McCarthy's post.
Big, big opportunity missed for Vardy. I was expecting that to hit the net.
Leicester come forward with pace once more, with Maddison spraying a lovely ball across the box to Vardy.
The striker sends Walker-Peters sliding to the shops with his dummy, finding himself face-to-face with McCarthy.
It's as if he snatches at it, almost having a fraction too much time to think of it. The Englishman tries to thump the ball low past the keeper but McCarthy stays strong to block. There was a lot of goal to the stopper's left to aim at...
The ball is lofted towards the back-post and Jamie Vardy is moving towards it menacingly, but Walker-Peters does just enough to get in the way, wrapping himself around the goal-post in the process.
The right-back is going to have a big job to keep Vardy quiet for the final 10 minutes.
Minamino makes way after a fairly anonymous display for the Liverpool loanee. Diallo comes on in his place. Does Hasenhuttl sense another goal here?
Albrighton comes on to add some fresh legs to Leicester's pursuit of the three points, replacing Luke Thomas on the left.
A superb response from Leicester. They've been sleepy all game, but you can see the determination to clinch this Champions League place.
It's lovely build-up play, the best we've seen tonight. Ndidi does well in the box and back-heels to Iheanacho, giving the Nigerian time to pick out the cross.
The in-form striker chips the ball in towards the six-yard-box, where Evans is there to tower above the rest and nod in.
There's an urgency about Leicester now. They took a moment to re-gather after the penalty, now they're on it.
Maddsion has had three strikes from range in about that many minutes, but the best chance came from Perez. The striker made space for a shot from the edge, bending a wickedly powerful effort towards the top corner, forcing McCarthy into a good save.
What a turn-up. Southampton, who started brightly before being struck with a red card, are rewarded for their brilliant defensive effort with a goal.
Iheanacho gives away the penalty, with both arms up and blocking a cross into the area. No arguments there, Tielemans' face said it all.
Ward-Prowse steps-up and buries it low to the left, the ball flying under Schmeichel who had guessed right.
The Foxes really, really can't afford to slip up here. Huge 30 minutes coming up.
From absolutely nowhere, the 10 men of Southampton have a penalty. Iheanacho giving away a handball.
Ward-Prowse with the chance...
Leicester's corners have been so poor tonight. Again they play it short and after some playing around Tielemans loses it.
The Foxes quickly win it back though and Castagne has the chance to cross, but Southampton are defending their box brilliantly.
Back underway, as Leicester get us underway looking to finally breakthrough the 10 men ahead of them.
Rodgers has made a tactical change at the break, with forward Perez replacing centre-back Fofana. One more body up-front could prove the difference.
It's level and goalless at the break, with Southampton avoiding a repeat of the implosion following their last early red card against Leicester...
The Saints started brightly and looked the more likely to score early, before Vestergaard's heavy touch on the edge of his own box and lunging tackle on Vardy earned him an early red. A very harsh one, though.
Since then, not much has happened. A handful of Leicester half-chances have broken-up a slow tempo, with the Saints' 10-men defending very deep.
Lets hope for some excitement in 15 minutes time...
The life really has been taken out of this game, with Southampton now forced to defend very deep, while Leicester are struggling to get through. Not much going on.
Frustrating, since that was a very harsh red card for Vestergaard...
Three minutes added for the commotion surrounding the red card.
Southampton are repelling Leicester really well. The Foxes haven't really had a proper clear-cut chance yet.
After Iheanacho's tame long-range effort was caught by McCarthy, Maddison does brilliantly to wriggle into space on the edge of the box and fire. Again thing, it's a weak effort easily saved.
The Foxes are looking to put their authority on this game now with their one-man advantage, enjoying longer spells of possession now.
Not much to speak of in chances right now, with the Saints defence staying compact. They're probing though...
Hasenhuttl has been forced into an early change, with Tella exiting for Salisu as the Saints move to a back four.
The Saints look determined though. Redmond darts forward and cuts in on the edge of the box, testing Schmeichel with a powerful drive. The Foxes keeper comfortably deals with it though.
After a long stoppage with Vardy down and the referee taking issue with Southampton's wall, Maddsion steps-up for the free-kick.
It's a lovely position on the edge of Maddsion puts it wide.
Southampton had started to brightly, but that's all about to change...
It's Vestergaard who has walked, after taking a heavy touch on the edge of the box as Vardy sped in to pounce. The centre-back lunged in and wiped the striker out, stopping a goal-scoring opportunity.
Again though, it's more VAR confusion. Verstergaard gets the ball before he makes contact with Vardy. The follow-through is the problem, but is that a red?
Hate to mention this, Saints fans, but Bertrand was sent-off at 0-0 in the 12th minute of the 9-0 between these two sides...
The hosts have started brighter here, looking good going forward and having most of the possession so far.
Adams and Redmond link up wonderfully on the left, with the striker driving forward, playing it wide to his countryman before getting it back, but Leicester just smother it.
That wasn't far off a very strong start for Southampton.
Vestergaard hoofs a very long ball from the edge of his own box over the entire Leicester team, looking to play Walker-Peters in behind.
The wing-back took the ball down and was one-on-one with Schmeichel in acres of space, hooking the ball into the net before it was brought back for offside.
We're underway at Saint Mary's. Both teams in their familiar home kits tonight.
Not long until kick-off now, here's a reminder of our line-ups:
SOU: McCarthy; Tella, Stephens, Vestergaard, Bednarek, Walker-Peters; Minamino, Ward-Prowse, Armstrong; Redmond, Adams.
LEI: Schmeichel; Fofana, Evans, Soyuncu; Castagne, Ndidi, Tielemans, Thomas; Maddison; Iheanacho, Vardy.
Leicester's top-four bid looks much stronger this season going into the final five games, looking on-track to avoid a repeat of last year's collapse.
It could turn into a battle for third place though, with Chelsea and Arsenal's European form threatening a cruel end to Brendan Rodgers' Champions League aims.
The Foxes lie third at present, with the Blues and West Ham right on their tale.
Danny Ings is embarking on yet another spell on the sidelines, and this one could be costly for the striker's career.
The former Liverpool forward's Euro 2020 hopes are now in doubt, while Hasenhuttl will be extremely lucky if he has Ings back before the end of the season.
He'll be a big, big miss tonight.
There's three changes for the Saints tonight, one far more pressing than any other.
Minamino comes back in for Walcott, while Stephens starts ahead of Salisu, with Hasenhuttl favouring a back-five tonight. But it's Danny Ings who will be the big miss, as Che Adams starts up top.
Leicester are unchanged tonight, with Rodgers favouring consistency in the Foxes' top-four push.
SOU: McCarthy; Tella, Stephens, Vestergaard, Bednarek, Walker-Peters; Minamino, Ward-Prowse, Armstrong; Redmond, Adams.
LEI: Schmeichel; Fofana, Evans, Soyuncu; Castagne, Ndidi, Tielemans, Thomas; Maddison; Iheanacho, Vardy.
Good evening and welcome to Sportsmail's coverage of Leicester's trip to Southampton in the Premier League tonight.
The Foxes can edge another crucial step towards Champions League qualification with victory, and the Saints might find it tough to stop them with Danny Ings missing from their line-up.
Stay tuned right here for all the build-up and live updates from reporter TOBY MILES.
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