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Leicester City managed to limp their way to a 0-0 draw against Southampton at the King Power Stadium. Both sides were coming off midweek European fixtures, but Southampton easily looked the better off, particularly in the second half.
Although there might’ve been question marks over player fatigue, the game went off with a fast pace to it. Leicester looked to contain an in-form Charlie Austin, who seemed to be at the center of it all for the Saints. He had an early chance to make his mark after a brilliant ball in from Cédric Soares, but in the end his header was comfortably saved by Kasper Schmeichel.
Austin was at it again in the 15th minute with an angled strike that smashed against the post. Leicester were creating next to nothing and were lucky to find themselves level.
As the 30-minute mark neared, Southampton’s play became a bit messier. Virgil van Dijk attempted to playan uncharacteristically sloppy pass back to his keeper, only for the loose ball to be pounced on by Jamie Vardy. Fraser Forster was instantly off his line to make the angle a tough one, but Vardy managed to evade him only for his shot to be blocked by Oriol Romeu. The ball fell to Islam Slimani, who struck it quickly only to be denied again by Romeu. The deflection fell to the feet of Vardy who struck it first time only to be blocked to a third time by Romeu. It was a completely wasted opportunity for the home side after what looked like a gift off a pass back.
It was back and fourth from there, with both sides going into the break with a complete lack of an end product in the final third.
Despite an average first half from the Foxes, the majority of the second was all Southampton. The onslaught began just after the 60-minute mark as Schmeichel was forced into a low save after an angled strike from Nathan Redmond. A minute later and the defense was split open yet again, with Austin finding himself one vs. one with the keeper, thankfully Schmeichel did brilliantly to deny the chip.
The introductions of Demari Gray and Shinji Okazaki seemed to bring some much-needed energy to the attack. The Foxes almost found an opening after a long throw from Christian Fuchs grazed the head of Robert Huth and caused some scrambling from Forster and the Saints six-yard-box. The resulting play ended with Okazaki nearly sending one into the bottom corner after an acrobatic header.
Unfortunately that seemed to be the end of any attacking play for the Foxes as the labored to the final whistle. There were some positives to take from the game, but more than anything the team looked knackered, particularly Vardy, who seemed far off his usual lively self. The Foxes head into the international break in 12th position as they continue to search for their form.