Southampton get an ugly kind of salvation

Southampton 0 Leicester United 0: It may not have been pretty but for Southampton this dull draw ended a wretched run of three defeats culminating in their elimination from the FA Cup by Newcastle United on Saturday.

However, their inability to find the net for a fourth match running is a worrying trend for their manager Gordon Strachan given the firepower at his disposal.

Southampton, still smarting from that 3-0 thumping by a Kieron Dyer-inspired Newcastle, dominated the opening exchanges.

Their Swedish midfielder Anders Svensson made a lively start to proceedings, leaving Les Ferdinand hobbling after a fierce challenge just outside the Southampton penalty area and then firing wide from a similar position at the other end.

Fabrice Fernandes, recalled for the injured Marian Pahars, went closer, just brushing the outside of the far post with an angled drive.

But City, managed by the former Southampton player Micky Adams, who gave Nikos Dabizas his debut in defence, responded strongly and Muzzy Izzet's 25-yard free-kick was punched away by a troubled Antti Niemi.

Leicester should have been ahead midway through the half but Ferdinand squandered a gilt-edged chance. Marcus Bent chested down Jordan Stewart's cross and the former Tottenham striker sliced the ball wide from 12 yards.

Bent then sent a shot across the face of goal before the tempo of the game dropped dramatically, consigning the rest of the first half to a dull midfield battle enlivened only when James Beattie and then Anders Svensson drove powerfully at Ian Walker's goal but both were well off target.

The pace picked up a little after the break with Ferdinand prominent again. In the 51st minute he sent in a dangerous looking header but the Southampton defender Danny Higginbotham was well positioned to clear.

But the generally low calibre of the contest was summed up when Leicester's Callum Davidson fired wildly over from outside the area when the left-sided midfielder had plenty of time and space to advance into a better position.

He might have rued his rashness a few minutes later when Phillips almost ended his goal drought. David Prutton sped down the right flank and Phillips stretched to divert his cross towards goal, but the ball bobbled beyond the far post.

Beattie drove over after Jason Dodd, who had switched to left-back, had sent in an inviting cross. Then it was Phillips's turn to fail again when he could only toe poke Beattie's whipped cross into Walker's hands.

As the game petered out Leicester's substitute Paul Dickov matched the mediocrity, sending a shot just wide from 25 yards.

SOUTHAMPTON: Niemi, Dodd, Michael Svensson, Lundekvam (Delap 42), Higginbotham, Telfer, Anders Svensson, Prutton, Fernandes (McCann 77), Phillips (Delgado 83), Beattie. Subs Not Used: Jones, Ormerod. Booked: Higginbotham, Michael Svensson.

LEICESTER: Walker, Impey, Dabizas, Howey, Stewart, Thatcher, Izzet, Scowcroft, Davidson, Bent, Ferdinand (Dickov 64). Subs Not Used: Coyne, Heath, Hignett, McKinlay. Booked: Izzet.

Ref: H Webb (S Yorkshire).