Southampton 0 Leicester City 2: Pearson celebrates his Saints return with victory at St Mary’s

Southampton missed the chance to move back to the top of the npower Championship after suffering a second successive home defeat.

The pressure was on Nigel Adkins’ side following West Ham’s 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest at Upton Park on Saturday.

They made a nightmare start as they found themselves 2-0 down inside 26 minutes and never recovered as Nigel Pearson celebrated a winning return to Southampton – having been manager for three months in 2008 – with Leicester triumphant for only the second time in eight league games.

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Leicester took the lead in the 15th minute when former Portsmouth striker David Nugent cut in from the left and curled a fine 20-yard effort past the despairing dive of goalkeeper Kelvin Davis.

They doubled their advantage 11 minutes later, defender Matt Mills scoring against the club where he began his career with a powerful stooping header.

Paul Konchesky hit a post in the second half but Leicester still had enough to secure their first win at St Mary’s and register the double over Saints having been the first team to beat them this season with a 3-2 home success in August.

Former Leeds United striker Jermaine Beckford, high on confidence following his hat-trick in Leicester’s 4-0 home FA Cup third-round replay win over Nottingham Forest last Tuesday, fired wide from 12 yards inside a minute before David Connolly did likewise at the other end as both sides made a quick start.

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Nugent nudged the visitors ahead with a splendid finish, his ninth goal of the season, and then dragged another effort wide as Leicester continued to cause Southampton problems.

It was 2-0 in the 26th minute. Sean St Ledger picked up the ball on the left and delivered an inch-perfect cross for fellow defender Mills to head home his first goal for the club – his last coming for Reading in last season’s play-off final defeat to Cardiff.