Southampton lose 2-0 to Leicester at the King Power Stadium

• Leicester 2-0 Southampton - in pictures >>
• Leicester 2-0 Southampton - as it happened >>
• Leicester 2-0 Southampton - Ronald Koeman's comments >>

An awful first half display cost Ronald Koeman’s side as they suffered defeat at the hands of another relegation threatened team.

It is now just one point from the last possible 18 away from home and a great season now has just four wins in the last 15 matches in all competitions.

A brace from Riyad Mahrez did the damage on this occasion, with the main positive for the day being that Saints remained just a point behind Tottenham in sixth place by virtue of Mauricio Pochettino’s men falling to a 3-0 beating at Stoke.

There was an absolutely electric atmosphere at the King Power Stadium and the crowd were buzzing even more when Robert Huth met Marc Albrighton’s near post corner but he headed a tough chance over the bar.

They almost raised the roof as Leicester took the lead on seven minutes.

It was not a great one from a Saints point of view as it came from a right wing throw-in in which the Foxes won the second ball.

Riyad Mahrez was allowed to cut across goal far too easily when he could have been stopped and hit a left footed shot from just outside the area that went into the bottom corner with Paulo Gazzaniga diving full length to his left but unable to keep it out.

Their enthusiasm was temporarily dampened though as a lengthy stoppage in play ended with Matty James stretchered off to be replaced by Danny Drinkwater after sustaining an injury in an innocuous looking race for the ball with Ryan Bertrand.

Things got worse for Saints on 19 minutes as they went 2-0 behind.

It was a horrible moment for Gazzaniga on his return to the team as he sliced an attempted clearance up in the air.

The Saints defence were caught on their heels and Jamie Vardy got into the area down the left and crossed to a total untracked Mahrez who was alone in the six yard box aside from Gazzaniga who could only get the slightest deflection to his stab home.

Harrison Reed tried to get an immediate response for Saints but his drive from distance was punched clear by Kasper Schmeichel.

They had a clearer cut chance on 25 minutes as Steven Davis headed into the six yard box and picked out Sadio Mane but his header was poor and well over the bar.

Gazzaniga was forced into a good save to stop Saints falling even further behind ten minutes later.

Mahrez played a nice reverse pass into area and the path of Vardy who had the beating of Toby Alderweireld but the Saints stopper spread himself well to stop the shot with his legs.

Leicester continued to threaten as Leonardo Ulloa managed to muscle his way in between three Saints defenders to meet Esteban Cambiasso’s flighted delivery from the left but he headed over.

Saints nearly got back into the game in first half stoppage time as Alderweireld flighted a free kick from 25 yards over the wall but it was fairly central and Schmeichel was able to turn it over the bar.

Interestingly Koeman decided not to make any personnel changes at the break, though he did tinker with the formation slightly with Victor Wanyama sat behind Reed and Steven Davis and then a three man attack with Eljero Elia and Mane either side of Graziano Pelle.

Elia tired his luck from distance four minutes after the restart but fired well wide.

Leicester came close on 58 minutes as Wanyama steered an attempted headed clearance from Albrighton’s right wing cross straight to Mahrez but he dragged his first time volley from just inside the area wide of the near post.

Cambiasso managed to get an effort on target five minutes later but he was off balance in the area and it was a comfortable save for Gazzaniga.

Saints were performing a bit better in the second period but still posed little forward threat with Leicester not attacking with the vigour of their first half display as they made themselves hard to break down to defend their lead.

Saints made a double change on 66 minutes to try and change things around with Filip Djuricic and Shane Long coming on for Steven Davis and Elia.

Leicester responded with David Nugent replacing Vardy.

Mane threatened to get Saints right back into the match with a lofted shot from 20 yards out but it was down the middle and a backpedalling Schmeichel was able to turn the ball over the bar.

Up the other end just moments later it could have been all over as Albrighton worked the ball in from the right to Cambiasso but his shot from 12 yards out hit the side netting.

Leicester made a final change to shore things up on 77 minutes with former Saint Dean Hammond coming on for Ulloa.

Marcin Wasilewski picked up the first booking of the game for a foul on Mane.

The defender headed over the bar when picked out by a corner with three minutes remaining.

Despite the fact they had struggled to get much going you never felt Saints were out of the game as you sensed that one goal would make Leicester nervous and give them a chance to get back into the game.

However, as the fourth official held up the board to show four minutes of stoppage time there was no more sign of a goal coming than there had been at any stage previously.

Alderweireld tried to make something happen with a shot from 25 yards but it cannoned off of a Leicester defender and wide.

Mane got on the ball in the Leicester area moments later but flashed a shot across goal and wide.

That proved to be the last chance of the match and the final whistle confirmed another disappointing away day defeat for Saints and just two games left to overtake Spurs and finish in sixth for guaranteed Europa League football.