Leicester City again came from behind to force a 2-2 draw with Southampton at St Mary's on Saturday.
Jamie Vardy continued his scoring streak with a second-half brace as the Foxes came from two goals down to land a point on the road.
Ronald Koeman's Saints went ahead on the 21st minute when captain Jose Fonte produced a glancing front-post header from Dusan Tadic's inswinging corner before Virgil van Dijk added a second around 15 minutes later when slotting home beyond Kasper Schmeichel after Graziano Pelle's initial header had hit the upright, bounced off the Dutch defender onto the woodwork again, and then in.
Vardy pulled one back for Claudio Ranieri's side in the 66th minute when heading home Nathan Dyer's right-wing cross before racing onto a lovely through ball from Riyad Mahrez and rifling past Kelvin Davis in injury-time for his ninth goal of the season, which has him three clear at the top of the scoring charts.
The draw allowed Leicester to stay fifth on the table as Southampton moved up to eighth by extending their unbeaten run to three matches.
MATCH OVERVIEW
Southampton: 2 (Jose Fonte 21', Virgil van Dijk 37')
Leicester City: 2 (Jamie Vardy 66'/90+1')
St Mary's Stadium, Southampton - 30,966
TALKING POINTS
- Another point for the Saints. Are they good enough to establish themselves in the top half of the table?
- Vardy is in career-best form. Is he the man to lead England at Euro2016? Or does he have to continue proving himself at club level with the Foxes?
WHAT'S NEXT?
Southampton head to Liverpool on Sunday as Leicester look ahead to Saturday's home meeting with Crystal Palace.
TWITTER INSIGHT
Once again the fans were amazing! Thank You! #foxesneverquithttps://t.co/uXn3jE8ofv
— Jamie Vardy (@vardy7) October 17, 2015The man @vardy7!! #Foxesneverquit#LCFCpic.twitter.com/TTFWdHBMni
— christian fuchs (@FuchsOfficial) October 17, 2015After a good 1st half, 2nd half was tough and the opponent strong! Still, we could have done better.
— Ronald Koeman (@RonaldKoeman) October 17, 2015https://t.co/twegaFIh5W#WeMarchOn#SaintsFC#debut
— Jordy Clasie (@JordyClasie) October 17, 2015
QUOTES CORNER
Southampton's Koeman on the result:
"You're two-nil up, it's a good performance so far, and great goals from set-pieces, but I have to recognise it was difficult."
Leicester boss Ranieri on Vardy:
"Jamie Vardy is important for us. If I was a player I'd think 'Oh, Jamie can score, Jamie can score' and this is important.
"He's got good stamina, and it's good to think during the match 'Jamie can score'."
STATS SPECIALS
*Thanks to Opta
6 - Leicester City have won more points from losing positions than any other Premier League side this season (6). Hunters.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 15, 20154 - Jamie Vardy is just the 4th Englishman to score in six consecutive PL apps this century, after Owen, Beattie and Sturridge (8). Run.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 17, 2015
TEAM LEADERS
SOUTHAMPTON
Goals - Graziano Pelle 5
Assists - Sadio Mane 4
Clean sheets - Maarten Stekelenburg 3
Yellow cards - Jose Fonte, Graziano Pelle, Victor Wanyama 3
LEICESTER
Goals - Jamie Vardy 9
Assists - Riyad Mahrez 4
Yellow cards - Jeff Schlupp 3
