Southampton hold on against Leicester to cast fresh doubt over Claude Puel’s future

Leicester City 1-2 Southampton: James Ward-Prowse’s penalty gave Saints the a lead which Shane Long doubled in first-half stoppage time just two minutes after Yan Valery had been sent off

James Ward-Prowse celebrates after converting from the spot for Southampton (Getty)

If the mere sight of Southampton was not enough to give Claude Puel cold sweats, the Frenchman’s Leicester City side made sure of a thoroughly miserable afternoon for their under-pressure manager.

Puel was sacked by the Saints two seasons ago despite an eighth-place finish and an appearance in a Wembley final.

And by boosting their own hopes of avoiding relegation with a tense victory, Ralph Hasenhuttl’s 10-man side left their former manager under mounting scrutiny in his current job despite the Foxes' respectable league placing.

James Ward-Prowse’s penalty gave Hasenhuttl’s men the a lead which Shane Long doubled in first-half stoppage time just two minutes after team-mate Yan Valery had been sent off for a second bookable offence.

Wilfred Ndidi gave Leicester hope and they laid siege to the Saints goal after half-time, but with referee Michael Oliver failing to fall for a Jamie Vardy dive, the Foxes found no way through.

It ensured boos for Puel and his players at the final whistle, mainly for a dreadful first-half display, with the Frenchman under mounting pressure from disgruntled fans.

Despite a handy league position and some impressive Christmas results, Puel’s seemingly hopeless battle to win over critics of his style of play goes on while Hasenhuttl claimed an invaluable victory.

He preceded this game with an impassioned defence of his reign, but last weekend’s FA Cup defeat at Newport, followed by a poor league display, will do little to help his cause.

The opening change fell to the visitors in the fourth minute when Oriol Romeu dispossessed Ben Chilwell with a firm challenge and released Stuart Armstrong, who dragged a 20-yard effort just wide.

Nampalys Mendy’s foul on Shane Long handed Southampton an early penalty (Getty Images)

Leicester lost the ball again moments later through Wes Morgan, allowing a Southampton break led by Nathan Redmond.

He got Harry Maguire backpeddling before his reverse pass found Armstrong, who screwed his shot into the side netting.

On 11 minutes the Saints had a penalty when they found Shane Long in the penalty area and he was bundled to the ground clumsily by Nampalys Mendy.

Kasper Schmeichel dived the right way and got a hand to Ward-Prowse’s spot-kick but could not stop it creeping inside the post to open the scoring.

It was a disjointed, careless opening 25 minutes from both sides, typified when Hamza Choudhury stole possession impressively for Leicester, only to send a sloppy pass out for a throw-in with the visitors struggling to regain their shape.

Shane Long beat Kasper Schmeichel from a tight angle to double Southampton’s lead (Getty)

Things might have got worse for Leicester 17 minutes from half-time, however, as Jack Stephens rose unmarked to meet a corner by Ward-Prowse, with his header drawing a save from Schmeichel.

Tensions rose 11 minutes from the interval when a high challenge by Yan Valery on Ben Chilwell sparked a confrontation that ended with both players shown yellow cards.

And second later the hosts were almost level when a cross fell for Wes Morgan, who stretched for an effort that was scrambled off the line by Jan Bednarek.

Valery had gone unpunished before his red card amid allegations of a dive from Chilwell, but in the final minute of the first half his game was over.

Yan Valery was sent off for two yellow cards (Getty Images)

He needlessly dragged down Marc Albrighton and received a second yellow card, followed by the inevitable red.

Yet seconds later the 10 men had doubled their led with a clinical finish from Long in stoppage time.

The defending from Ricardo Pereira and Mendy was dreadful as they allowed the striker to collect a long goal-kick from Alex McCarthy, bear down on goal and curl a right-footed effort past Schmeichel.

A double-change at half-time by Leicester was designed to add extra impetus and seven minutes into the second half McCarthy had to beat away a drive by Maddison.

Wilfred Ndidi clawed one back for the hosts (Getty Images)

The Foxes halved their arrears 13 minutes into the second half when Maddison and half-time substitute Demarai Gray combined cleverly to release Pereira, whose cross was bundled home from close range by Ndidi.

Just after the hour-mark Jamie Vardy escaped punishment for a dive in the penalty area, with referee Michael Oliver declining to either award a spot-kick or book the Leicester man.

Southampton’s intentions were clear with all nine outfield players camped within 25 yards of their own goal for much of the time.

And when Leicester did pick their way through, McCarthy was on hand to save Maddison’s shot.