Harry Maguire leaves it late as Leicester see off Southampton

Posted Sunday, August 26, 2018 by PA

Harry Maguire’s late drive handed Claude Puel sweet revenge over his ex-employers as Leicester saw off 10-man Southampton 2-1 at St Mary’s.

England defender Maguire’s drilled effort in stoppage time added insult to injury for Saints, who had Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg sent off for two bookings.

Ryan Bertrand’s thunderbolt strike on his 150th appearance for the club had the hosts in front, only for Demarai Gray to equalise just four minutes later.

Hojbjerg’s dismissal after diving in the Leicester box gifted the Foxes the chance to steal the points, and the visitors duly obliged – much to Puel’s delight.

GOOOOOALLLL! MAGUIRE WITH A STUNNER! SCENES! 😁#SouLei pic.twitter.com/M4b6ULb1ek
— Leicester City (@LCFC) August 25, 2018

The ex-Nice boss was sacked in 2017 despite guiding Saints to an eight-place Premier League finish and the League Cup final.

Southampton’s wait for their first win of the season goes on, with Mark Hughes’ men now boasting just three victories in their last 28 Premier League games at St Mary’s.

Precious little of note happened in a poor first half. Leicester sat curiously deep, especially considering every time they pressed Saints’ midfield they won the ball.

Jannik Vestergaard sent a speculative long-range header wide from a corner, then Bertrand met mere fresh air when attempting to send Nathan Redmond’s cutback goalwards.

Harry Maguire leaves it late as Leicester see off Southampton — Mark Hughes watches on as his Saints side fall to a defeat (Steven Paston/PA)

Danny Ings saw a smart enough strike on the turn parried by Kasper Schmeichel, and Shane Long could not reach the rebound.

Bertrand threaded a fine inside-left ball through to the onrushing Ings to start the second half, only for Schmeichel to save the striker’s effort with ease.

Eventually full-back Bertrand simply had enough of the malaise – so fired a thunderbolt strike into the top corner from 18 yards.

Mohamed Elyounoussi slipped and missed a reasonable drag-back pass, but the ball rolled nicely for Bertrand – and the ex-Chelsea star conjured an emphatic finish at odds with the rest of this humdrum contest.

52: GOOAAAALLLLLLL! IT''S @ryanbertrand3!! #saintsfc [1-0] pic.twitter.com/TaQBGQ55OZ
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) August 25, 2018

Saints led for just three minutes, their continuing soft centre proving costly again.

When the hosts failed to clear a hopeful ball into the box Gray snatched possession and drilled home the leveller.

Saints pressed again but with no precision and nowhere near enough intensity.

Hojbjerg drove into the area in a rare threat, but his booking for diving summed up another frustrating Southampton afternoon.

Hojbjerg’s second yellow card ushered in his marching orders, leaving the hosts a man light for the final throes.

The match continued in listless fashion, with Saints fully expecting to see out the draw – that is, until Maguire stormed forward, checked and then drilled home a smart winner.