PUEL RETURNS IN TRIUMPH TO SINK THE SAINTS
CLAUDE PUEL’S Leicester produced the perfect display on the manager’s first return to his former club. The Frenchman was sacked by Southampton in June following a supporter backlash at his dull brand of football. Last night his Leicester side played probably the best football Saints fans had ever seen the Frenchman put on at St Mary’s. Puel’s Southampton never scored four here and Leicester amassed as many in one night as Saints had in his last eight home games in charge. Yet this was not a one-off to settle an old score. Leicester have looked like this since Puel took over in October. Heavy rainfall made for a slippery pitch at kick-off and two tumbles played a significant part in Leicester’s 11th-minute opening goal. All-in it was a fine move, started by Mahrez near his own penalty area, from where he played a one-two with Shinji Okazaki and advanced to 40 yards out. The winger checked back and fell, unintentionally disarming Southampton players. He dribbled at goal and when Mario Lemina also slipped, space opened up for Mahrez to run on before firing across goal and into the right corner. If Puel is trying to make a point about his perceived dull style of football it is coming across clearly at his new club, with their fourth straight Premier League win. Jamie Vardy attempted back-heel flicks, Mahrez and Ben Chilwell went for a double nutmeg on Lemina. Mahrez then burst into the box after another one-two with Okazaki, only to have his cutback blocked by Cedric Soares. It was all Leicester and they were two head by the 32nd minute after an audacious move. Mahrez’s corner was met by Christian Fuchs on the volley and the ball bounced between Steven Davis and Fraser Forster before Okazaki prodded it in. Leicester had three goal by halftime and it could have been even worse for the hosts. Centre back Harry Maguire was able to chest down Mahrez’s long freekick in Southampton’s penalty area and when he sent the ball hard across the six-yard box, Andy King was free at the back post to convert. The chances kept coming. Lemina desperately slid back to clear Okazaki’s shot from the goal line after it had beaten Forster’s dive and was heading into the bottom right corner of the net. Forster then spread himself to deny Vardy following a rapid Leicester break and Southampton’s goalkeeper pawed away Okazaki’s 20-yard shot after it hit Virgil van Dijk. In the first half Southampton could only muster an edge-ofthe-box drive from Charlie Austin. Although well struck it was straightforward for Kasper Schmeichel to punch over. ‘Are you glad you sacked Puel?’ came the chant from the travelling supporters. There was no response. Puel celebrated the third goal like he celebrated Southampton’s goals in the EFL Cup final last season. This meant more than a standard away win. Maya Yoshida mustered a headed goal for Saints in the 61st minute but Leicester soon had their fourth. Cedric Soares played a terrible cross-field ball straight to Mahrez, who slipped Vardy down the right channel. His cross was met first-time by the impressive Okazaki.