Comeback City Stun The Saints
It was all going wrong at the break for City, after goals from Cameron Archer and Joe Aribo put the winless Saints on track for a precious victory. Steve Cooper's men, though, steadily built their way back, with Facundo Buonanotte halving the deficit just after the hour-mark. Abdul Fatawu's introduction from the bench seemed to be a turning point for the Foxes, offering a direct attacking force down the flanks as the hosts began to tire. It was his brilliant curler which clattered off the crossbar before a scramble in the box led to Ryan Fraser tugging on Jamie Vardy's shirt to deny him a swipe at the ball from two yards out. A VAR check by Anthony Taylor would result in Fraser being dismissed and Vardy having the chance to smash a penalty past Aaron Ramsdale. Just as it seemed Leicester would be forced to settle for a point they once thought beyond them, up stepped Ayew with practically the last kick to convert fellow second-half substitute Harry Winks' corner into the back of the net. The Blue Army, tucked away in the corner at St. Mary's, burst into pandemonium, toasting back-to-back wins for the first time this season. These three points elevate them up to 13th in the Premier League table, with nine points from eight matches. After losing out late at Crystal Palace and Arsenal, finally it's Leicester's turn to savour a last-gasp winner.
Cooper’s first XI since the international break saw Bilal El Khannouss return to the starting picture, with Ayew dropping to the bench. Jannik Vestergaard, on the other hand, missed out after suffering a setback with his ankle on Friday. Wilfred Ndidi’s inclusion, on the other hand, made him the fifth LCFC player to make 200 Premier League appearances for the Club. He joins Vardy, Kasper Schmeichel, Marc Albrighton and Muzzy Izzet on that illustrious list. Naturally, after securing a first Premier League win over AFC Bournemouth before the break, and with games coming up against the two other newly-promoted sides, there was a sense of opportunity about City’s trip to the South Coast. Five minutes in, though, Aribo’s header crashed off Mads Hermansen’s crossbar from a Ryan Manning corner. It was a warning and, in actual fact, just the precursor to an optimism-denting Saints opener, dispatched by Archer from close range. It wasn’t the start an attacking Foxes line-up had hoped for and their afternoon in Southampton would get more taxing before the interval.
Leicester didn’t want to let momentum swing irretrievably in their opponents' favour. To their credit, Cooper’s visitors were able to keep the ball and get forwards in response to falling behind. Buonanotte’s free-kick, from the left side, was a decent opening for them, but James Justin nodded it wide. Ndidi also flicked a quick Stephy Mavididi corner the wrong side of Ramsdale’s near post. Just before the half-hour, though, it was two for Russell Martin’s Saints, Aribo again the man to finish inside the box. An important shot at three points seemed to be slipping through City's fingers. Flynn Downes’ close-range effort needed to be saved later on by Hermansen as well to at least keep Leicester within touching distance. El Khannouss, one of the bright sparks for City early on, nearly narrowed the arrears before the break. The Moroccan spun on the spot, slightly to the left of the area, but his curler struck the post. A complete 180-degree turn in fortunes was needed if the visitors were to get anything.
Into the second half, Hermansen was called into action by Wout Faes of all people – inadvertently sending a powerful header towards his own goal. The Dane telegraphed it, mind you, and palmed it over the top. City stirred before the 60-minute mark. Vardy was slipped in nicely by Buonanotte, the No.9 with a clear sight of goal. A superb block by Mateus Fernandes, however, quickly blocked that view. Buonanotte’s curled strike from the 20 yards was a danger too, although it flew wide. The introductions of Winks and then Fatawu offered fresh legs for the latter moments. After Hermansen’s save from Tyler Dibling at the other end, Fatawu was charging towards the byline for City. His delivery across goal found Buonanotte, the Argentine prodding it past Ramsdale and giving Leicester hope. Just a goal down with nearly half an hour to play. Game on.
It all went a little haywire from then on – as the match completely flipped in City’s favour. Fatawu’s excellent drive from range came booming off the crossbar. As the visitors reworked another opening, before long Vardy was pulled back by Fraser in the box, just as he looked to pull the trigger. Initially only giving a corner, the Foxes players pleaded with Taylor to take another look on his VAR monitor. Once formally advised to do just that, it was a simple enough decision for the referee, who also elected to reach for his red card. Vardy himself took the spot-kick, blasting it hard and true through Ramsdale. Two apiece and now with a man advantage, it was suddenly Leicester’s to win. A deflected Justin cross at one stage looked like it might bounce over the line, before the fourth official indicated for seven additional minutes.
There was defending to do too, as Paul Onuachu's flick freed Kamaldeen Sulemana on the counter for the Saints. A heroic Faes block prevented City suffering a late sucker-punch. Southampton venturing forwards did offer Leicester the chance to break themselves. Four minuted into added time, the ball rolled across the edge of the box to Buonanotte, but the Brighton & Hove Albion loanee dragged his effort wide. And so it all came down to one corner, at Winks' feet, as the clock struck 98. It was low and inviting. Ayew was the target and the Ghanian swung a boot at it, squeezing it in at the near post and sending the Blue Army into raptures. This could be a crucial three points in the context of the whole season and momentum is beginning to build for the Foxes.