LEICESTER BLAST NINE PAST SORRY SOUTHAMPTON
RAIN fell, winds swirled and as the heavens opened over St Mary’s, Leicester City blew Southampton away with a performance to make their boss smile from above.
Tomorrow marks one year since the tragic death of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and, for all the displays of remembrance this week, few will be as fitting as this thumping victory that will surely cost Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl his job.
The Leicester fans wore commemorative scarves carrying the four-word legacy of their late chairman: Making the impossible possible. This team, carved in the image of the man who led them to that title triumph in 2015-16, are making their supporters dream once more.
Once again they played with confidence and invention, goals from Ben Chilwell, Jamie Vardy, Youri Tielemans and two from Ayoze Perez ending the contest before half-time.
Perez secured his hat-trick shortly after the break, before Vardy also completed a treble — the third from the spot with the final kick of the match — either side of James Maddison’s delightful free-kick.
‘I was very pleased to see our work rate, we scored some great goals and we were very hungry,’ said Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers
‘It was horrible weather but our focus was outstanding. I’m very proud to stand and be the manager of that team.
‘We wanted to get the ball back quickly and attack again. A mark of good sides is that you don’t let up.
‘We were ruthlessly simple in our game. When you’re so many goals up, you can easily slow down but we kept focused. We want to be a top team and to be a top team you must be clinical.’
For the third consecutive home game, Hasenhuttl’s side imploded in the first half. They lost Ryan Bertrand to an early red card and just fell apart. For their manager, this will be the final straw.
The night belonged to Leicester. They are now second and only 2-1 to make the top four. That doesn’t flatter them, either. Few teams in the league are playing with this sort of skill and fluidity.
Before the game, Rodgers spoke about the need to continue Vichai’s spirit. His legacy lives on through his son, Top, who brought in the manager in February. And under the Northern Irishman, they are breaking new ground again.
They began brightly last night and it took only 10 minutes for the floodgates to open. Chilwell drove forward and his cross was turned goalwards by Harvey Barnes. Angus Gunn pushed the effort out, but only into the path of Chilwell, who slotted home.
VAR then added insult to injury. The tackle that hurt Perez, which came moments before the opener, was missed by most inside St Mary’s. But not the VAR officials.
Bertrand had lost control of the ball and in stretching to win it back, caught Perez halfway up his leg. It was a horrible challenge and Andre Marriner had no choice but to show a straight red card.
Saints had barely gathered themselves when the game was taken away from them in the space of two minutes.
Again it was Chilwell and Barnes who combined. The left-back drove 50 yards before feeding his winger, who picked out Tielemans inside the area. The Belgian had enough time to take a touch and fire home.
Moments later the scorer turned provider, sharing a one-two with Perez, who opened his Leicester account with a simple finish. Boos rang out. It was the fastest Leicester had raced into a 3-0 top-flight lead for more than 20 years. But worse was to come for Southampton.
On 39 minutes, Chilwell looped a cross towards the back post. Yan Valery chose to watch it go for a goal-kick, unaware that Perez was closing in behind him. The forward fired high into the net to send streams of supporters home early.
Vardy got in on the act when Chillwell saw his cross deflected into the striker’s feet. He turned Mayo Yoshida and fired home.
Perez then netted their sixth and his third, while Vardy notched a second with more than half an hour left.
‘The performance was a disaster and I have to apologise and take 100-per-cent responsibility,’ said Hasenhuttl.
‘I’ve never seen a team act like this. There was no fight for anything.’
Leicester, meanwhile, march on. People have been foolish enough to bet against them before.