Catastrophic start for Saints 0-1 Vardy
It’s embarrassing enough to concede in the first minute of any game, but to do it two weeks in a row is unforgivable.
Just 20 seconds in, Southampton made an absolute mess of passing out from the back, a common theme throughout the match, from their own kick off. Mavididi played a beautiful one two with Vardy, the ball then dropped perfectly for the latter who comfortably dispatched the ball from a few yards out.
Worst possible start for Southampton.
Mess of playing out from the back
Shortly after, Southampton continued to play themselves into trouble. This time, Harwood-Bellis was the guilty culprit with a crazy pass from his six-yard box, straight into the path of Dewsbury-Hall and in fairness Bellis recovered well to make the block. Southampton were playing themselves into Leicester’s hands.
Southampton Response
Southampton started to create some chances of their own. Edozie nearly got on the end of an Adams cut back, prevented only by a top, last-ditch tackle from Justin.
A few minutes later, an aggressive slide tackle from Ryan Fraser set Adams on his way who opened his body up and curled an effort towards the far corner, which was well saved by Hermansen. Better from Southampton.
Finally, the best of the chances, Winks lost the ball cheaply trying to play out from the back. Adams greedily took the ball with his back to goal when the better option would have been to pass it across. Another big save from Hermansen!
Special pass from Dewsbury-Hall 0-2 McAteer
More horrific passing out from the back from Southampton and they lost it again in a costly area of the pitch in their own half.
Dewsbury-Hall drove forward, Vardy used his experience to shift the defender out of the way to create the space for Dewsbury-Hall to play a gem of a defence-splitting pass on a plate for McAteer, who effortlessly slotted it home. Again, shocking from Southampton.
Improbable moments
Firstly, Southampton pulled off one of the worst free-kicks in history, playing short and passing it straight to a Leicester player to start a counter. Southampton attacking set pieces were causing more harm than good.
Also, we nearly saw an incredible own goal with multiple deflections coming off Mavididi’s head, nearly flying into the top corner.
Doyle shocker 1-2 Edozie
Leicester’s turn to make a mistake at the back and one Doyle will not enjoy watching back. Doyle completely missed the ball to allow Adams to play an easy pass through to Edozie. A deft dinked finish from Edozie flew into the far corner. Game on!
All Leicester
Following on from the Southampton goal was a wave of attacking pressure from Leicester. A lovely move and hold-up play from Vardy who layed it off to Ndidi who fired a rocket from outside the box towards the bottom corner. Bazunu pulled out a rare, great save.
Shortly after, there was a quick counter-attack from Leicester. It’s important to acknowledge Southampton’s right side had no interest in getting back and defending. This allowed Dewsbury-Hall to set up Mavididi who drove towards goal. His decision making was really poor here – he shot from a tough angle instead of playing it across to McAteer for a tap in. Lucky escape for Southampton.
Another Mavididi chance came just after. More easy attacking work down the left side set up Mavididi who scuffed his shot wide. He had lots of time to take a touch and then have his strike, again shows a lack of composure and end product.
Beautiful Leicester goal 1-3 Ndidi
Much better work from Mavididi this time. An incredible turn, Mavididi showed great agility and balance to stay on his feet and opened up the space to play a nice, disguised pass through to Ndidi.
Ndidi took this chance like a cultured striker, he showed outragous composure to sit down the incoming Harwood-Bellis, who was having a nightmare of a debut, to clip the ball just about past Bazunu who got something on it. Southampton couldn’t stop the Leicester pressure who went in at half time with a deserved 3-1 lead.
Half time thoughts
For the neutral, this game was an absolute treat. Two chaotic teams, both an absolute mess playing out from the back. Southampton were showing why they have conceded the most goals in the league with more pathetic defending and were lucky to go in at just 3-1. They should have been punished more.
More poor decision making from Mavididi
As expected, the second half didn’t deliver like the whirlwind of the first half and the pace and tempo of the game slowed down and Leicester had more control on the game.
Dewsbury-Hall yet again showed his quality playing a delicious though ball to Mavididi. Mavididi’s decision making again was shocking and so greedy. He decided to take it on his own with a poor finish wide of the goal instead of sweating it across to Vardy. Really greedy play!
Mavididi makes amends 1-4 Mavididi
Southampton were masters of their own downfall – Sulemana played a hospital pass straight to Mavididi who had one man to beat in Smallbone who was awful all game. Mavididi just knocked the ball past him and drove towards goal with no one in his sight.
Again Mavididi had the option to pass with Dewsbury-Hall up with him. Again Mavididi took it on himself but this time he buried the strike arrowing it towards the far corner. It was a bold move taking on the shot – Mavididi was clearly feeling confident and if he missed, he would have been hooked off for sure.
Southampton shots
For a team that defends so badly you would expect Southampton to offer something in attack, but this wasn’t the case. Southampton had 4/5 shots from miles out straight at the keeper. They were unable to create anything showing why Martin ball is so ineffective.
Kelechi shock miss
At the death, Iheanacho was threaded through again unmarked but much to my surprise he got his dink all wrong, skewing the ball over the bar. A bad miss for a player of Kelechi’s quality, not that it would have changed the outcome of the game.
Questionable red card
Sulemana already at fault for the fourth goal nightmare return got even worse. He zoomed in and caught Justin showing his studs. It was a nasty tackle but it was never a red card, a yellow at worst. Madley had a stinker there and Southampton’s evening went from bad to worse.
In conclusion
Fair play to Leicester, they punished Southampton but they didn’t do anything special or need to play that well – everything was fed into their hands. That win was all down to Southampton’s delusional defensive set up. If Mavididi’s decision making had been better, it very easily could have turned ugly.
Martin needs to have a plan B for Southampton’s game vs Ipswich on Tuesday. I am buzzing for that, perfect time to play Southampton and with our pace in behind and aggressive press, another battering will be incoming for Southampton!