Sport/ Football

Southampton forget Fonte fuss to crush Leicester

Saints put former captain’s departure to one side to add to Leicester’s woes

Agence France-Presse

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Published: 11:18pm, 22 Jan, 2017

Updated: 11:18pm, 22 Jan, 2017

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Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal in their 3-0 win over Leicester City at St Mary’s. Photo: AFP

Southampton put the row over former captain Jose Fonte’s departure to one side as they beat struggling champions Leicester 3-0 in the English Premier League at St Mary’s on Sunday.

Fonte joined top-flight rivals West Ham in an £8 million (HK$76.6 million) move on Friday, with the Portugal defender having been dropped by Southampton manager Claude Puel earlier this month after he handed in a transfer request.

But the Saints, no stranger to seeing their players leave for more lucrative offers at bigger English clubs during the transfer window, shrugged off Fonte’s loss to end a run of four straight Premier League defeats in style.

Southampton's Dusan Tadic scores from the penalty spot against Leicester. Photo: Reuters

For Leicester, this latest loss was their 11th in 22 league games so far this season and left them just five points above the relegation zone.

Southampton were 2-0 up before half-time thanks to goals from James Ward-Prowse and Jay Rodriguez.

The south coast side wrapped up just their seventh league win of the current campaign four minutes from time when Dusan Tadic scored from the penalty spot.

Victory was just the boost Southampton, now 11th in the table, needed ahead of their League Cup semi-final second leg clash against Liverpool on Wednesday, with the Saints taking a 1-0 lead to Anfield.

Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri watches it all go wrong for his side against Southampton. Photo: AFP

“The first goal in any game is important,” midfielder Ward-Prowse told Sky Sports. “After the bad run we have been on this is a turning point in the season.

“Wednesday is massive. It [Anfield] is a tough place to go but we can take confidence from today and how we played against them in the first leg and hopefully we can get to Wembley.”

Former Southampton captain Jose Fonte joined top-flight rivals West Ham on Friday. Photo: AP

Meanwhile, Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri blamed himself for his side’s defeat and promised to revert to the formation that proved so successful for the Foxes during their shock title triumph last season.

“I think the last matches I changed shape to try to help my players play better but maybe I made mistakes,” he said.

“Against Chelsea we played three at the back and today we wanted to play with a diamond. The players are used to 4-4-1-1 and know the positions but I made a mistake,” the Italian added. “I think it is much better to give them what they know well.”