SLAB IN THE
Southampton...1 Leicester...2 Big-head Harry leaves Sparky speechless with a late stunner
WHISPERING Claude Puel rarely shows any emotion – let alone leaps and jumps for joy on a pitch.
But the Leicester boss did exactly that yesterday when celebrating Harry Maguire’s last-gasp long-range winner against the club that sacked him 14 months ago.
How Puel must wish Leicester and Southampton played each other every week. In the five meetings between the two he has been involved in, he is yet to lose. Maguire’s 92nd-minute effort, alongside Demarai Gray’s earlier strike, was enough to secure him a third victory in this ‘Puel derby’ as his visitors came from behind in dramatic fashion.
On his ecstatic reaction, the Foxes boss said: “It is good sometimes but my personality is unimportant. “It is my players reaction on the pitch that matters.
“We won this game with personality and mentality. The level of the Premier League is crazy this season and we must continue with this good spirit.
“When I saw Harry with the ball, I thought, ‘Keep it, keep it’. But it was a fantastic goal – the perfect time to score. I was so happy for him and so happy for the team.”
While Leicester moved to seventh in the table, Saints slipped down to 16th and are still without a win. Poor Mark Hughes just stared on in disbelief at the end. After Ryan Bertrand scored in the 52nd minute, his side were in command. But that was before a defensive lapse allowed
McCarthy 7; Cedric 5, Vestergaard 8, Hoedt 7, Bertrand 7; Lemina 6, Hojbjerg 5, Redmond 6, Elyounoussi 7 (Romeu Leicester to equalise – and then Southampton’s Danish midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was shown a second yellow card for a blatant dive in the 77nd minute.
Having been booked already, it was sheer lunacy for him to go tumbling in the box looking for a penalty. Eagle-eyed Jonathan Moss did not fall for it and rightly sent him off.
Even Hughes, who loves having a moan at officials, could not argue with the decision – although he did have a try.
Saints boss Sparky said: “My only argument is the first yellow was very soft. But if you’re booked, you must make sure you don’t get another.
“In Pierre’s defence he might have been clipped before he went down.
“Maybe at that point you hope the ref shows some common sense and just gives a free-kick. But, hey ho, that’s Jon Moss.’’
Some things never change, eh? But how the St Mary’s faithful are desperate to see their form on the south coast improve.
Leicester’s best moments in a dull first half came via the wings through Ben Chilwell’s dangerous deliveries.
But the clearest opening of the period came in the final seconds – for the Saints. Danny Ings, quiet until then, spun his marker and fired towards the far corner, only for Kasper Schmeichel to palm away.
That led to a pumped-up second-half display from the hosts – and the breakthrough arrived soon after.
Hojbjerg‘s crossed was meant for Mohamed Elyounoussi but when he slipped, it rolled invitingly to Bertrand, who crashed in a left-foot screamer from 18 yards.
Maybe the shock of the Saints skipper’s fourth league goal in more than 100 games led to a lapse at the other end.
Two minutes later Cedric misplaced a header and Gray punished him.
Yet even with a numerical advantage it seemed Leicester would settle for a point.
But then Maguire – known as Slab Head – picked up possession and let rip from 25 yards to send Puel and the travelling fans mad.