Southampton 1-4 Leicester: 3 things learned

Who doesn’t enjoy an early season Friday night away trip to Saint Mary’s Stadium, full of goals and “ole’s” all completed before Saturday even arrives? Southampton fans! Leicester produced a clinical and magic performance to roll over a potential promotion contender and have Enzo Maresca delighted, but what three things will he have learned.

Stephy Mavididi – an enigmatic display!

Leicester City have been crying out for fresh wingers for many seasons and all of a sudden they have some contenders! Kasey McAteer struck a classy goal to add to his tally and put in a solid performance on the right but it was the man playing out on the left that grabbed the headlines in all his maddening glory. Stephy Mavididi was close to unplayable against Southampton, with several marauding runs causing issues for his hapless opposition.

The first was in the opening 20 seconds where he marched towards the byline in the box before a selfless, scruffy cutback that found its way via a deflection too a grateful Jamie Vardy to open his league goal account for the season. His hard work and persistence in the first half saw Leicester into a 2-1 lead with Mavididi desperate to add more. He saw a tame effort comfortably saved in the 36th minute before going outside on his left foot 4 minutes later and forcing another smart save. In first-half injury time, he produced a piece of magic as he spun away from a late challenge that saw him scramble back to his feet and play a neat through ball to Wilfred Ndidi who calmly cut back on his right foot to slot home and put the game back in Leicester’s favour.

The enigma of Mavididi came in the 60th minute when he found himself through on goal after penetrating The Saints bizarre high-line, but as he honed in on goal Gavin Bazunu smartly closed down the angles making the only viable option an easy on the plate tap in for Jamie Vardy. Mavididi opted to poke it wide instead, much to the annoyance of Leicester’s No.9.

Six minutes later a very similar situation opened up as he went round a Saints defender and charged forward. This time Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was placed nicely to his left, instead he decided to knock the ball neatly past the goalkeeper much to the delight of the away fans. Goal or not though, he made the wrong decision twice and ended up scoring to add to his two assists. He will continue to excite and frustrate unless he makes some simple changes to his game, at which point he’ll be a frighteningly good prospect. Because even on this display he was clearly the man of the match.