By Sam Cunningham | IOL |
Claudio Ranieri took the blame for confusing his Leicester City players with complicated formation changes as their latest defeat put his hapless side on course for the worst title defence in English top flight history.
Southampton’s third goal, scored by Dusan Tadic from the penalty spot to add to strikes from the excellent James Ward-Prowse and Jay Rodriguez, took Leicester City past the 36 Premier League goals they conceded all of last season. This was their second defeat by that scoreline in succession, having been beaten by Chelsea a week previously.
The defeat on Sunday leaves Leicester on 21 points, just five points clear of the relegation zone and matching the position champions Ipswich found themselves in after 22 games in 1963. Ipswich finished that season 17th — avoiding relegation in a 22-team division.
“My players are used to playing 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 and for this reason I made mistakes, it’s my fault in these last two matches,” admitted Ranieri. “I tried to help my players in the last two matches and I changed our normal shape. Against Chelsea I played three defenders at the back, today I played a diamond in the midfield and provoked a misunderstanding.
“Maybe I don’t explain well everything to the players. They make mistakes, but it’s me who must explain better. I recognise they felt better with the other formations and recognise the movements and shape and everything. I hope we can go back with the normal shape and improve.”
Southampton, in contrast, were excellent, not least Ward-Prowse.
The midfielder’s technique produced one goal, set up another and it was a touch unfair that Tadic did not allow him to take the penalty for the third. Ward-Prowse’s opener came in the 26th minute, as Cedric Soares cut the ball into his path and such was the verve with which he struck the ball, first-time and right-footed, goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel had no chance.
It was only Ward-Prowse’s first goal in 22 appearances and sixth in 157 for the club. He has been told more is needed, but his manager Claude Puel said: “Since the beginning of the season he has made good progress, he is strong with a good presence, good physical recovery and quality on the pitch.
“It is important also because it gives us situations with a good right foot on free-kicks, and this gives us opportunities to score like the second goal with Rodriguez.”
Ward-Prowse’s delivery played a huge part in their 39th-minute second goal, with the curve on the ball causing problems. From 40 yards out, he sent a free-kick hard and true into the area and Leicester defender Robert Huth headed the ball into the path of Rodriguez, who finished tidily from an angle.
Wes Morgan shot over when he should have scored from five yards out — with no one around — and in the final five minutes he brought down substitute Shane Long inside his own area and Tadic made it 3-0 from the spot, when many supporters were calling for Ward-Prowse to take the penalty.
Saints will assess Virgil van Dijk’s ankle injury today amid fears that he will be unavailable for their League Cup semi-final second leg against Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday.
They lead the tie 1-0. The centre back was unable to continue early in the second half after taking a hefty kick from Leicester striker Jamie Vardy.
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