Leicester City 2-0 Southampton: Key moments from the pitch as Foxes triumph | OneFootball

Ruud van Nistelrooy successfully navigated the bottom-of-the-league almost worst team in the history of the Premier League. Great. At least we won a match again. Those three points puts Leicester one point behind Ipswich Town on 21 points.

The fixture unfolded in perhaps the way we expected it to. The match started with some back and forth with the ball, little goal threat from either side, with a few shots taken in the first 15 minutes of the game. It was only after Luke Thomas and Bilal El Khannouss combined that the Foxes beat Southampton's defence and saw Jamie Vardy score his 199th goal for the club.

The King Power club continued playing well with little to no reward until Jordan Ayew hit the defensive wall of a free kick before hitting the rebound into the net. After 12 minutes of additional time, Leicester City went into the second half 2-0 up. The second half saw no actual goals from either side, myriad missed chances from Khannouss, and an offside goal for Southampton.

Leicester City should 'Sack the Board'

Nistelrooy's team were passing the ball back and forth as Southampton follow suit, with neither side performing particularly well. As a result, Leicester City supporters started chanting to raise some spirits. They chanted 'Sack the Board' as a small banner was unfurled in SK1 demanding the club hierarchy to sack Jon Rudkin.

It was of course during the chorus of anti-board sentiment that Bilal El Khannouss got his 16th minute cross into Jamie Vardy to score. That feels close to being prophetic. The Foxes respond better to being reminded that the board are primarily to blame for the shocking decline of a club that was previously challenging for European competitions.

Supporters were no doubt frustrated at what appeared a poor display, poor team selection, and a board taking little action in the January transfer window to help the side, while also granting heavy contracts to underwhelming players over the last couple of years. Some of those talents barely perform to the standards of those we signed for less, gave lesser wages to, and adore.

Southampton 'Want their Ref back'

Shortly after the 'Vardy Party' took the lead, referee David Webb had an accidental collision with Jordan Ayew. Although neither of the pair were paying attention to their collective presence, the 33-year-old flattened the referee who was removed from the pitch for treatment.

After multiple minutes of waiting, restless and behind a goal, The Saints' away supporters sang first that they 'want their ref back'. With the minutes ticking passed, it felt like pre-match again. Leicester players starting passing the ball between each other, Aaron Ramsdale sent a long ball towards Jakub Stolarczyk and Conor Coady, and the Dutch head coach used the time to make subtle alterations to how they play.

In the end, Sam Barrott came on to replace Webb after 12 minutes, with the away end now chanting that 'this is embarassing' towards the Premier League authority taking so long to resume the fixture. After all, all we wanted was to get that match going again and go and score a second goal.

Jeers to cheers

Ayew, Khannouss, and Wilfred Ndidi were all over the pitch, providing support to retain possession and linking up with fullbacks and each other to get the ball forward. We did occasionally see Coady, Wout Faes, or Oliver Skipp making passes towards Vardy or the Moroccan before returning to position. This incessant passing and movement eventually led to a direct free kick in the 44th minute.

The angle is difficult to be fair. Ayew took the shot and it cannoned of the wall. Foxes sighed, Saints jeered, and the rebound found its way back to Ayew. Well, you know how that went. Leicester's sighs turned to rapturous cheers and utter joy at finally scoring multiple at home and being ahead convincingly for once. Meanwhile, Southampton's fans in disbelief started... well, chanting again.

This time, they chanted that their players were 'not fit to wear the shirt'. Meanwhile, the home fans were disjointed, with some singing 'cheerio' and others reminding the away supporters that they were going down together. Supporters were even booing their own players who had made mistakes. At least we here at Leicester City only berate our players online and primarily attack the board during games.

A whole half of 'Matty Fernandes'

The only glimmer of hope the travellers had was a well worked chance for Mateus Fernandes at the 55th minute, which their supporters believed had brought them back into the game. This young talent has to be pretty underated, he had ran around, been creative, and genuinely tried hard for the fans despite their relegation already having been confirmed.

After his goal was declared offside and confirmed by VAR, Fernandes was removed from the game at the 57th minute for William Smallbone. Now then, anyone who was in the ground could tell you we think the away end were unhappy with what seemed like a poor decision from the head coach. They took off arguably their most dangerous talent, killed their momentum in the game giving it back to the Foxes, and offered little of a challenge to the East Midlands giants.

Initially you heard the usual 'you don't know what you're doing' directed towards a head coach which clearly acted in a way which killed the game for them. Southampton proceeded to chant 'Matty Fernandes' while clapping loudly for around 40 minutes of football, only being interrupted by anticipation for shots on goal from Khannouss and the Saints themselves.

The stadium effectively became content Leicester fans occassionally chanting 'Leicester' thrice with no more references to sacking the board, and Southampton fans decrying the decision to take Fernandes off the pitch. All I will say about this is that there are going to be some sore throats and quiet houses in Southampton this evening.

Leicester City's win was not expected. It was however, completely warranted and deserved based on their performance. Were it not for the wasteful shooting of the young Moroccan who looks like he will rip up the Championship should he stay with the King Power side, Nistelrooy's team could have been one or two more goals up with no reply. At least we know the level at which this team can play.

I will also give a big congratulations to Jake Evans who made his home debut for the senior side today after being brought on as a substitute in the 84th minute. The youngster is a goal threat and links well with Jeremy Monga. The future of Leicester is bright with players like that.