Leicester City vs Southampton. Premier League.
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Leicester City 1-2 Southampton: Che Adams sparks comeback as Saints grab first win of season
Report and highlights as Southampton come back from a goal down to stun Leicester; James Maddison's free-kick gave hosts the lead but sub Che Adams' double sparked Saints' revival and Ralph Hasenhuttl's side held on for their first win of the season; Leicester's wait for a win goes on
Saturday 20 August 2022 20:28, UK
Che Adams’ second-half double saw Southampton comeback from a goal down to secure their first win of the Premier League season with a 2-1 victory at Leicester.
Brendan Rodgers, who revealed he left out Wesley Fofana because the defender was not in the right frame of mind amid speculation about a potential move to Chelsea, saw his side take the lead thanks to James Maddison's free-kick in the 54th minute.
One, a change in system, and two I mentioned in the week about coming into a Premier League game and maybe some players who maybe just aren't in the right frame of mind. That's the reason for the change.
However, defensive issues once again cost Leicester as substitute Adams bundled home an equaliser from close range just nine minutes after coming on.
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Things got worse for Leicester, but even better for Adams and Saints as the striker volleyed home James Ward-Prowse's cross to hand Ralph Hasenhuttl's side their first win of the campaign
"We didn't accept that we don't get anything here," Hasenhuttl said after his side's win. "The reaction of the team was fantastic. We knew we could turn things around. We now have Manchester United and Chelsea, two home games. We have four points, and it is a good start. Better than in previous years."
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On the other hand, boos from the home fans greeted the final whistle as Leicester still wait for their first win of the season, while off-field issues surrounding the futures of Fofana and Youri Tielemans, who was dropped to the bench, remain.
Rodgers: It's a challenging time
Leicester's defeat means they have just one point from their opening three games and with speculation surrounding the futures of some of their players refusing to go away, Rodgers had admitted it's a challenging time for the club.
The full-time whistle was greeted with boos, while Adams' second goal saw plenty of Leicester fans head for the exits, and Rodgers says he understands the frustrations of the fans.
"It's a challenging time, there's no doubt about that," the Leicester boss told Sky Sports.
"From where the club has been over last few years, been up there challenging the top four and winning trophies, and of course supporters they look at the club over a course of the summer and they get excited by having new signings and seeing them develop and seeing us push on.
"We haven't been able to do that. So, the atmosphere, it is difficult, and I totally understand it from the supporters because they want to see us continually push on.
"Obviously, the players, they themselves would like to have that competition in the squad as well, but at the moment, my concentration is purely on the players that are here - and the players that are here are fully committed to helping the team gain results.
"That is what I've always done in my career, look after the collective, and I'll continue to do that."
How Saints stunned Leicester...
Both sides set a frantic pace at the start of the game, but it was a case of defences on top for the majority of the half, which has not necessarily been the case with these two teams in recent times.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's deep cross created an opening for Ayoze Perez, but the forward failed to connect with a volley at the far post, while at the other end, Sekou Mara thought he had given the visitors the lead with a superb finish, but the offside flag was correctly raised to cancel out the goal.
The best chance of the half arguably fell to Harvey Barnes, who pounced on a loose Southampton pass before driving into the area and firing wide of the far post.
Leicester took the lead early in the second half as Maddison whipped a free kick around the wall to beat goalkeeper Gavin Bazuna and find the bottom corner.
However, with Chelsea target Fofana watching on from the stands, Leicester's defence buckled as Mohammed Salisu's long throw was touched on by Armel Bella-Kotchap into substitute Adams, who smashed home a first-time strike from close range to bring the scores level.
Saints completed the turnaround six minutes from time when Adams volleyed home Ward-Prowse's cross to seal a superb away win for Hasenhuttl and his side.
'We knew we could turn it around'
Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl:
"We had a tough start today with a very young group on the pitch. We made a few changes tactically and it took a little way for us to find a way in the game. Against the ball I think it was not so bad but with the ball we lost some balls and that conceded a bit mentally. The way we defended today was on a very high level. Set pieces were defended well and offensively good. A simple way of turning things around after conceding a goal which was, I think the only shot on target from the opponent in the second half. We didn't accept that we don't get anything here. The reaction of the team was fantastic. We knew we could turn things around.
"We now have Manchester United and Chelsea, two home games. We have four points, and it is a good start. Better than in previous years."
Positives for Hasenhuttl's young Saints
Sky Sports' Oliver Yew:
"There was trouble potentially brewing at Southampton with reports of player unrest at the club. Ralph Hasenhuttl had apparently lost the dressing room, but the comeback against Leeds last week and the revival at Leicester, which saw them secure their first win of the season, have surely dispelled those rumours.
"It was the substitution that saw Che Adams come on that made all the difference as the striker scored just his second brace in the premier league to lift the mood around St Mary's.
"There were other positives Saints too.
"The average age Southampton's starting XI today - 23 years 238 days - was their youngest fielded in the Premier League, while it's the youngest in the competition since Manchester United - 22 years 284 days) against Crystal Palace in May 2017.
"Things are definitely starting to look up for Hasenhuttl and his side."
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What's next?
It's Carabao Cup action up next for Leicester. They travel to Stockport in the second round on Tuesday; kick-off 7.45pm. Their next Premier League assignment is a trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on Saturday August 27; kick-off 3pm.
Meanwhile, Southampton are also in Carabao Cup action on Tuesday when they travel to Cambridge United; kick-off 7.45pm. Their next Premier League game is also on Saturday August 27 when they host Manchester United; kick-off 12.30pm.
