Maddison shines as Saints and Foxes share the points and regrets

NOT quite the avalanche from meetings past but a welcome flurry of goals in these barren lands. Before last night, no other top-flight ground had been as starved as St Mary’s this season. Here, four goals were shared along with two points and a sense of what might have been. Southampton led 2-1 early in the second half when Nathan Tella found the goal at his mercy — his header was wasted, Leicester hit back almost immediately and Ralph Hasenhuttl’s mood never recovered. By the end, however, it was Brendan Rodgers’ turn to lament several close shaves. Leicester’s clearest opening fell to Jamie Vardy, only for the forward to fire over as James Maddison waited to tap in. The midfielder had already netted once, following Jonny Evans’ lead after Jan Bednarek and Che Adams twice put Saints ahead. ‘It was a deserved point and a very good game for everyone to watch,’ Hasenhuttl said. ‘We had a big chance for a third goal — we need to do this in these moments.’ Leicester’s travelling support were barely through their first taunt when Bednarek — among the victims of that 9-0 humiliation in 2019 — promptly shut them up. ‘Who put the ball in Southampton’s net?’ visiting supporters sung. ‘Half the f ****** team did.’ Shame that no fewer in blue stood and watched as Tella’s pull-back was fired at goal by Mohammed Salisu. Kasper Schmeichel was down sharply to push the ball out, only for Bednarek to react quickest. Credit Leicester, they learned their lesson — Evans’ equaliser mirrored the goal they earlier conceded. From Maddison’s cross, Wilfred Ndidi’s shot was saved by Alex McCarthy before Evans smashed the ball home.

That made Leicester only the second team in Premier League history to both score and concede in 14 straight away games. Their first-half defending here suggested only one half of that bargain might dry up soon — 11 minutes before the break, Adams was afforded too much space to head home. The second period was delayed by around 15 minutes as paramedics treated a supporter who had suffered a fit. Saints really should have put this

game to bed soon after the eventual restart. How they paid for Tella’s miss as Maddison danced inside a challenge before firing past McCarthy at his near post. Both sides could have won it but Leicester came far closer. McCarthy saved brilliantly from Harvey Barnes but even he would have been powerless had Vardy found Maddison. ‘At half-time we might have taken the point,’ Rodgers admitted. ‘By the end it was two points dropped.’

SOUTHAMPTON (4-2-2-2): McCARTHY 8; Livramento 6, Bednarek 6.5 (Lyanco 85min), Salisu 6.5, Walker-Peters 6; Tella 6.5 (Broja 65, 6), Ward-Prowse 6.5, Romeu 6, Redmond 6.5; Armstrong 5 (Elyounoussi 74, 6), Adams 7. Scorers: Bednarek 3, Adams 34. Booked: Romeu. Manager: Ralph Hasenhuttl 6.5. LEICESTER CITY (4-2-3-1): Schmeichel 6.5; Castagne 6, Evans 6.5, Soyuncu 6, Thomas 6.5; Soumare 6 (Dewsbury-Hall 46, 7), Ndidi 6.5; Lookman 6 (Perez 61, 6), Maddison 7.5, Barnes 6.5 (Daka 75, 6); Vardy 5. Scorers: Evans 22, Maddison 49. Booked: Lookman, Ndidi. Manager: Brendan Rodgers 6. Referee: Robert Jones 5. Attendance: 26,951.