Saints foil Foxes

Jacob Laursen (left) shows determination for Leicester

Southampton 2-2 Leicester
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Marian Pahars' late penalty completed Southampton's fightback and denied Leicester a win at St Mary's.

Pahars kept a cool head from the penalty spot, striking four minutes from time for his second goal of the game.

A double strike from Brian Deane had earlier fired Leicester into a two-goal lead and looked like earning the Premiership's basement club an unlikely away win.

I feel we've been robbed of victory and it's a cruel blow when you're down there and trying to get a victory

Leicester City manager Dave Bassett

But Southampton were thrown a lifeline in the 86th minute after Leicester defender Matt Elliott was penalised for shirt-pulling on substitute James Beattie.

Up to that point, it looked as though Leicester were going to hang on grimly for only their fourth win of the season.

Southampton twice hit the woodwork as they completely dominated the opening stages.

Kevin Davies' cross after two minutes deceived Leicester keeper Ian Walker and landed on top of the crossbar, while Brett Ormerod thumped a shot against the foot of the post after Davies knocked the ball down.

  Foxes foiled

21mins: Brian Deane heads Leicester ahead

24mins: Deane's bizarre goal doubles Leicester's lead

29mins: Marian Pahars pulls one back

86mins: Pahars saves a point from the spot

Southampton suffered an blow when central defender Claus Lundekvam was forced off with a head injury.

Saints' failure to press home their early dominance returned to haunt them as Leicester scored twice in the space of three minutes, completely against the run of play.

On 21 minutes, veteran striker Deane bulleted a header from Paul Dickov's cross past keeper Paul Jones.

Leicester doubled their lead with an extraordinary goal three minutes later. Jones raced out of his box to head a ball clear, but it only went as far as Muzzy Izzet, in the centre circle.

It would have been easy to throw the gameplan out of the window and panic - but with the chances we made, we probably deserved to win the game

Southampton manager Gordon Strachan

As Izzet returned the ball back over Jones the Southampton keeper stumbled and fell. The ball rebounded off the bar and Deane scuffed a shot which bounced over the prone keeper.

Southampton were stunned by the setback but on 29 minutes, they pulled a goal back through Pahars who got in front of Delaney to flash home a header from Chris Marsden's cross.

Jones redeemed his first-half error with a brilliant save from Izzet's quickly-taken free-kick at the start of the second-half.

Robbie Savage (left) and Matthew Oakley battle it out

The Welsh international reacted quickly again as Paul Dickov chested the ball down and volleyed goalwards.

Southampton continued to dominate in terms of possession and territory but found Leicester in a determined mood.

The Foxes sat deep and packed blue shirts behind the ball, and despite the introduction of fit-again Beattie, Southampton ran out of ideas to break Leicester down.

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Southampton: Jones, Telfer, Bridge, Lundekvam (El Khalej 23), Williams, Oakley, Marsden, Svensson (Beattie 64), Davies (Fernandes 63), Pahars, Ormerod.

Subs Not Used: Moss, Tessem.

Leicester: Walker, Marshall, Elliott, Laursen, Delaney, Oakes, Savage, Izzet, Piper, Deane (Heath 76), Dickov (Reeves 81).

Subs Not Used: Andrews, Ashton, Tommy Wright.

Booked: Elliott, Dickov, Oakes, Reeves. Att: 30,012

Ref: M Dean (The Wirral).