Sadly for the Foxes, and their now hopeful promotion hopes, multiple problem marred an already difficult night at St Mary's Stadium. While Leicester City had designs on another potential record victory when meeting Southampton on Tuesday evening, the home side had other ideas. City were even a shadow of their generally inconsistent and impotent selves in the current season.
A loss which raises more question than answers about Marti Cifuentes' now indifferent tenure as LCFC manager. Many supporters are consequently expecting, or advocating for, Cifuentes' exit from Filbert Way. Not that fans in Leicestershire want to be in this position whatsoever. Time will tell if the former Queens Park Rangers head coach can retain his current job.
In addition to much of, if not all, the matchday squad having off days, up-and-coming Foxes left back Bade Aluko ruined his own full senior debut. Although the defender, who is only age 19 and still learning a fairly stressful and demanding trade, did unfortunately get a little help towards his dismissal from Abdul Fatawu. Though the young Fox has now apologised.
What young Leicester City star Bade Aluko said after disappointing red card negatively affected Foxes
Firstly, Aluko will get another chance to become a notable Leicester player (if those footballers still exist!). He has not destroyed his chances with the King Power outfit. He may actually grow from the unfortunate red card incident.
However, City won't get that fixture back. But, as I say, the full back was only one part of systematic problems versus the Saints. Yet, we must face facts: he did ultimately create a major issue on the night.
In his defence, one of Aluko's yellow cards was wholly avoidable: Fatawu sold him short, nerves and the will to succeed subsequently outweighed composure at that moment. Following defeat to Tonda Eckert's men, Cifuentes ultimately felt the pressure again.
Later on, Aluko made a rather brief yet hopefully sincere apology to his teammates and the Blue Army:
"Not the way I wanted my first Leicester City start to go. Apologies to the fans and the boys for the red card. I’ll learn from it and come back stronger."Bade Aluko, via LCFC Live