Southampton boosted their chances of escaping relegation with a 1-0 win against Leicester City
Southampton are no longer the worst team in the Premier League thanks to a 1-0 win at home to Leicester City in Saturday's late kickoff.
The Saints moved up to 19th on the log thanks to Carlos Jonas Alcaraz's goal which earned them a valuable win and crucial three points against Leicester.
Nigerian internationals Paul Onuachu and Joe Aribo were not involved for Southampton with the former on the bench and the latter not even listed at all while Kelechi Iheanacho played the full 90 minutes to no avail for Leicester City.
Southampton 1-0 Leicester City
Southampton came into this game off the back of an embarrassing home defeat to fourth-tier Grimsby Town and looked to make amends but it was Leicester who started brightest.
Kelechi Iheanacho could have put the visitors in front earlier on but he mistimed his header from James Maddison's cross into the box from a free kick.
Minutes later Southampton got a better chance after Timothy Castagne was adjudged to have handled the ball and the Saints were given a penalty.
The reliable James Ward-Prowse stepped up on his 330th appearance for Southampton but he missed in rather uncharacteristic fashion when Danny Ward saved low to his right in the 32nd minute.
Alcaraz spared his blushes few minutes later as he raced through on goal to score after some fine hold-up play by Che Adams with the goal awarded upon VAR intervention.
Iheanacho second half disasterclass
The second half was all about Iheanacho who missed multiple clear-cut opportunities to draw the visitors levels much to the chagrin of Brendan Rodgers.
The Nigerian had another headed opportunity laid on a plate for him by Dennis Praet but the header lacked the usual conviction and floated wide.
A third clear-cut chance was gifted to him when Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu passed straight to him, but yet again the chance went begging as Iheanacho fired over.
The Saints held on for the win which lifted them off the bottom in what was a great day for them as their fellow relegation battlers Bournemouth, Leeds United and West Ham all lost.
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