How we scored the Leicester City players as Abdul Fatawu runs riot to score a hat-trick and leave his team one win from promotion to the Premier League in a thrashing of the Saints
Abdul Fatawu’s stunning hat-trick put Leicester City one win from promotion as they tore Southampton apart in their performance of the season.
The Ghanaian tormented the Saints defence to score three times, including one superb curling effort, as City responded to the big-game pressure and ripped through their rivals. Fatawu, a menace all evening, also set up Jamie Vardy, with Wilfred Ndidi on the scoresheet too.
Three points mean City need just one more win against either Preston or Blackburn to seal their return to the Premier League. But they could go up without kicking another ball if Leeds lose to QPR this Friday.
Enzo Maresca made two changes for the fixture. Despite his heroics against West Brom, Hamza Choudhury was replaced by Ricardo Pereira, while James Justin’s return at left-back saw Wout Faes shuffled inside and Conor Coady dropped to the bench. Jamie Vardy started for the second time in four days, a rarity for the 37-year-old this season.
For the first 10 minutes, big-game nerves affected both sides, but City were the quickest to get over them and get into their stride. By the 15-minute mark, the chances were flowing, with Fatawu firing at Alex McCarthy, Ndidi bending just wide, and Stephy Mavididi nearly hooking a volley in after meeting a deep cross.
Midway through the half, City had their opener. But it came in controversial circumstances. Wout Faes charged out to press Che Adams and the pair appeared to foul each other as they went for the ball. Referee Bobby Madley waved play on and City ripped through the lines, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall threading through Fatawu to coolly slot home.
Replays showed the Ghanaian may have been marginally offside. But it was the incident with Faes and Adams that prompted the deep discussion on the touchline between Maresca, Russell Martin and the fourth official.
City remained strong for the rest of the half, their defence doing a terrific job to keep the Southampton attackers quiet. While the possession showed Southampton had had 65 per cent of the ball, the shot count showed City were controlling the running of the game, taking 11 efforts at goal to the visitors’ one.
The Saints flew out of the traps in the second period but City withstood their five-minute burst of energy, with Fatawu leading the pushback as he continued to torment Kyle Walker-Peters. And then City really gripped control with a second goal.
Ndidi won the ball on the right and City worked it across to the left to Mavididi. The winger bided his time then hung up a cross with Ndidi dashing in to thump a header between McCarthy’s legs.
Fatawu then put the game beyond the Saints with the goal of the match. Receiving the ball on the right, he darted inside his man and curled delightfully into the far corner sparking chants of: ‘We are going up!’
But City weren’t done there. Fatawu then turned creator, fooling the Southampton defence as he faked to go on his left then delivered with his right foot to find Vardy’s run to the front post, the number nine finishing first time.
And then came the magic moment for the young Ghanaian. City broke with Dewsbury-Hall, who fed Vardy, the striker laying the ball across for Fatawu to tap in for his hat-trick. Here’s how we scored the players.
Mads Hermansen: City’s defence was so good that he didn’t have a single save to make. He did spill one cross in a nervy moment, but otherwise was fine, advancing out of his area to bait the Saints press too. 6
Ricardo Pereira: He’s just really good at everything. He was so tight to Armstrong and had such bite in the tackle that the Saints skipper didn’t have a sniff. Moved out of defence with the ball well too. 8
Wout Faes: There would have been plenty of fans wanting Coady to remain in the team, but Faes justified his selection with an excellent showing. He was very quick to Adams every time and that helped set up the first goal. He passed well. 8
Jannik Vestergaard: His balls through the lines, particularly to Vardy, were very good, and regularly took out Southampton’s midfield. He pressed forward with commitment, but just gave away too many fouls. 7
James Justin: He didn’t give Brooks an inch and so completely snuffed out Southampton’s attacks down his flank. He got forward really well too and was always looking to make himself an option in the final third. His best display in some time. 9
Harry Winks: He looked a little more lively than on Saturday, and moved the ball well, but he wasn’t perfect. The more adventurous passes didn’t quite come off. 6
Wilfred Ndidi: He got stuck in really well in the opening stages, albeit his first touch was loose and a few moves broke down with him. But he showed off his uncovered attacking prowess with a great run and header for the second goal. 7
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: He was sloppy at times and didn’t always make the right decision in the final third, but he was much more like himself, and much more influential. He was excellent in his runs with the ball, constantly driving into space, and played a lovely pass for the opener. 8
Abdul Fatawu: Stunning. The performance of the season. The run and cool finish for the first were excellent, the curler for his second was delightful, and the assist for Vardy was brilliant in how he fooled the Saints defence. Then he capped it off with a hat-trick. 10
Jamie Vardy: Fired up for the big occasion, he was a nuisance throughout, never giving the Saints centre-backs a moment’s rest. The run and finish for his goal were Vardy at his best, while he laid the ball perfectly across for Fatawu’s third. 9
Stephy Mavididi: He ran at Bree regularly to cause problems on the City left, but his crosses didn’t cause too much danger until the second half when he hung up a teasing ball for Ndidi to attack. Good stuff. 7
Hamza Choudhury: Put in a couple of crunching tackles to get the crowd on their feet again. But he annoyed Hermansen by not being in the right place to receive short passes out. 6
Patson Daka: Didn’t really get involved as City saw the game out. N/A
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