adminLEICESTER moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League with six games remaining after Wes Morgan’s header saw off Southampton. The Foxes skipper connected with Christian Fuchs’ first-half cross to score his first goal of the season. Southampton came closest when Sadio Mane rounded Kasper Schmeichel, but his goalbound shot was superbly blocked by Danny Simpson.
Leicester will win the title if they win four of their remaining games.
Claudio Ranieri’s side have now won five of their last six matches by a 1-0 scoreline, and after main title rivals Tottenham slipped up with a draw at Liverpool on Saturday, the most unlikely title triumph in Premier League history must surely be considered a probability now.
Southampton remain seventh after a first defeat in four matches.
Only two of the Foxes’ first 26 league games were 1-0 wins, but at a crucial stage of the season, they have found the knack of grinding out narrow victories based on defensive solidity and clinical finishing.
They have also been able to rely on finding vital goals from unlikely sources — with Danny Drinkwater, Andy King and Leonardo Ulloa all having chipped in in recent weeks — and this time it was Morgan who found the net.
The defender outmuscled Jordy Clasie from a cross by Fuchs – the Austrian’s fourth assist of the season.
Thereafter the hosts had to weather persistent Southampton pressure, as their possession dropped from 52.5 percent in the first half to 40% after the interval.
But once again their back four proved impregnable, with Morgan and Robert Huth making 20 clearances between them.
Southampton slipped to only a second defeat in six away games, but manager Ronald Koeman felt his side were on the receiving end of two bad decisions.
The Dutchman alleged Simpson’s first-half block was a handball, and cited a similar infringement in the second half when Huth blocked a cross.
“For the third match in a row we don’t get a 100 percent penalty — Stoke City away, Liverpool at home, and today two penalties,” Koeman said.
“The big one is when Sadio Mane’s shot hits Danny Simpson and it’s a red card and a penalty. If it’s not a handball, it’s a goal. I don’t know what they’re doing.
“The second one was when Robert Huth handled. I don’t say [Leicester] don’t deserve the victory, but if it’s a penalty and a red card, they don’t win.” — BBC Sport
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