Wilfred Ndidi scored his first-ever Championship goal as Leicester City secured a 4-1 win over Southampton who finished the game at St. Mary’s with 10 men.
The game was a clash two of the Premier League’s most high-profile relegated sides last season having both enjoyed a decade’s plus stint in the English top fight.
Veteran forward Jamie Vardy put the Foxes in the front after just 22 seconds with a cool finish. It was 2-0 17 minutes later with Kasey McAteer profiting off a Southampton defensive error.
The Saints pulled one back via Anglo-Nigerian Samuel Edozie’s strike in the 25th minute but Leicester were able to extend the cushion thanks to Ndidi’s slick finish in added time of the first half.
It was the Nigerian midfielder’s third goal of the season having found the back of the net in the Foxes’ EFL Cup first and second round wins over Burton Albion and Tranmere Rovers respectively.
The perfect time to score ⚽
Mavididi with a smart turn and he threads it through to Ndidi, who bundles his close-range finish past Bazunu and in!#SOULEI https://t.co/FfP2eZ7Zvv
— Leicester City (@LCFC) September 15, 2023
Anglo-Congolese forward Stephy Mavididi put the final nail in the coffin in the 67th minute after racing from his team’s half into the opposition’s half unopposed and buried the ball past Irish-Nigerian goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu.
Southampton’s woes were compounded when substitute and Ghana forward Kamaldeen Sulemana received a straight red card in added time for a reckless challenge on James Justin.
Red Card. Sulemana gets a straight red for Southampton.#SOULEI
— Leicester City (@LCFC) September 15, 2023
The result sees Leicester back to winning ways after their 100% start to the season was ended by Hull City before the international break. They also maintain a two-point lead at the top of the Championship standings over Preston North End who face Plymouth Argyle on Saturday.
For Southampton, it’s back-to-back defeats after back-to-back wins over Plymouth and Queens Park Rangers.
