Southampton 2 Leicester 3: Russell Martin’s future hanging in balance after Ayew’s 99th-MINUTE winner to seal comeback

RUSSELL MARTIN watched in agony as his side suffered yet another disastrous collapse – to leave his future hanging in the balance.

Southampton cruised 2-0 up through Cameron Archer and Joe Aribo – but again collapsed as Facundo Buonanotte, a Jamie Vardy penalty and Jordan Ayew in the 99th minute earned Leicester victory.

ReutersJordan Ayew raced away to celebrate his late Leicester winner[/caption]

PAAyew’s effort sneaked in to break Southampton hearts[/caption]

ReutersFellow scorers Jamie Vardy and Facundo Buonanotte hail Ayew’s goal[/caption]

ReutersSouthampton’s Charlie Taylor, Flynn Downes and Joe Aribo reflect on defeat[/caption]

Martin had angrily rounded on his team’s critics before the game, inviting them down to the South Coast to discuss things with him, insisting his team were being brave and that it would pay off.

He might get some responses after this latest disaster.

Saints’ last win in the Premier League is now a chilling 21 games ago, ironically against Leicester, way back in March 2023. The season before last.

The speculation over Martin’s future will now surely crank up.

Southampton’s next game sees them visit Manchester City, but following that are two potentially winnable outings, against fellow strugglers Everton and Wolves. If he lasts that long, that future could hang on those matches.

His team could not, in such a crucial game, have got off to a better start, as they flew at Leicester from the off.

Cooper’s team had an escape after only four minutes, as Ryan Manning’s corner was thundered against the bar by Joe Aribo’s header, and City only just managed to scramble the ball away.

Four minutes later though, their sluggish start was duly punished, as Walker-Peters fed Manning on the left, and his low cross was fired home from six yards out by Archer.

ReutersJamie Vardy’s penalty past Aaron Ramsdale put Leicester level[/caption]

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City tried to hit back, but Wout Faes blazed over from a free kick when he should have done better, and then James Justin headed wide from Stephy Mavididi’s cross.

But Leicester could not handle Walker-Peters’ dashes down the left, and when the defender skipped past Justin, he got to the byline and pulled the ball back for Aribo to slot home a crucial second goal for the Saints.

Southampton could have had a third when Flynn Downes found space in the box, but goalkeeper Mads Hermansen somehow managed to save with his legs.

City did though almost get one back against the run of play, when Bilal El Khannouss curled his shot against the inside of the post, but the ball bounced out and Saints survived.

Faes then almost scored a spectacular own goal as his diving header from Fernandes cross was pushed over by Hernansen.

Vardy had been quiet, and Mateus Fernandes got back to block well when he for once had space, and then Buonanotte curled an effort just wide.

At the other end though Tyler Dibling saw his shot saved – but Leicester’s improved display saw them pull one back a minute later, when Abdul Fatawu crossed low and Buonanotte slotted the ball in at the near post.

Saints’ nerves suddenly were showing, and ten minutes later Fatawu’s, curling shot came back off the bar.

Martin’s side did not clear, and when Fatawu’s header at the far post was only half stopped by Aaron Ramsdale, Saints scrambled the ball away – but Ryan Fraser was ruled by VAR to have pulled back Vardy when he was going for the loose ball.

Vardy needed no second invitation to slam home the penalty to haul Leicester level.

Then deep into stoppage time Harry Winks’ corner fell to Ayew, completely unmarked in the area, and he drilled his shot into the corner of the net.

GettyCameron Archer salutes his early goal but it turned sour for the Saints[/caption]

GettyArcher pounced for the first of Southampton’s two first-half goals[/caption]