Southampton chucked away a 2-0 lead after 64 minutes to lose 3-2 at home to Leicester City on Saturday.
The Saints are now winless in their first eight games of the season and their manager Russell Martin looked shellshocked at the final whistle.
Cameron Archer and Joe Aribo had Saints 2-0 up inside the first 30 minutes and they were cruising. But Leicester hit the post in the first half and looked dangerous and pulled one back through Facundo Buonanotte. The game then swung on Ryan Fraser pulling back Jamie Vardy in the box as he gave away a penalty, which Vardy scored, and was sent off.
With the last attack of the game Jordan Ayew then squeezed home a 98th-minute winner to send the away fans wild as Southampton were left stunned.
With the win Leicester move on to nine points for the season, while Southampton remain on one point.
Devastating collapse will hit Saints hard
This is the kind of defeat which will define a season. Not in a good way. Southampton were clinical early on and put themselves in a great position, but they just never looked like they believed they could win this game and secure their first victory of the season. They allowed Leicester to keep believing and as soon as the Foxes’ first goal went in you knew what would happen. Russell Martin’s side play some lovely stuff and could have gone 3-0 up but Ryan Fraser’s disaster substitute appearance summed up their collapse. On the flip side Abdul Fatawu was excellent off the bench and ripped Southampton apart, just like he did last season in the Championship. Football is a cruel game and Southampton will do well to recover from this crushing blow as the manner they lost this game sums up the harsh lessons they’ve been learning week in, week out this season. It’s still early in the season but there really is no coming back from this kind of defeat.
Southampton vs Leicester player ratings
Fatawu changed the game off the bench as he hit the bar and was a constant threat. Buonanotte was also so dangerous and Southampton couldn’t handle him and Vardy in the second half. Walker-Peters was the main bright spot for Southampton.
How to watch Southampton vs Leicester live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Saturday (October 19)
Venue: St Mary’s Stadium
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Watch live on Peacock
Southampton vs Leicester final score: 2-3
Archer 8', Aribo 28'; Buonanotte 63', Vardy 74', Ayew 98'
Southampton vs Leicester live updates! - By Joe Prince-Wright
Ayew wins it with the final attack of the game! - Southampton 2-3 Leicester
Incredible drama. A corner is played back to Ayew and he squirms a shot into the bottom corner. Heartbreak for Saints who thought they had held on for a battling point. Leicester and their fans go wild!
Buonanotte smashes just wide
That seemed like the moment Leicester were going to win it. The ball dropped to Facundo Buonanotte and drilled his low shot inches wide of the far post. He can’t believe it.
Red card, penalty and goal for Leicester! - Southampton 2-2 Leicester
Oh my word. What a crazy few minutes. A ball to the back post founds Fatawu. Ramsdale does so well to save but Fraser pulls Vardy’s shirt back as he finishes and it’s blocked over. VAR is used and a penalty kick is awarded and Fraser sent off. Vardy smashes home the penalty kick and it’s 2-2. Wow.
Leicester are back in it! - Southampton 2-1 Leicester
Facundo Buonanotte taps home from close range after great work from substitute Abdul Fatawu. Leicester are back in it!
Brilliant block to deny Vardy and Buonanotte curls wide
Leicester are throwing everything at Saints now. Vardy is in but several Saints players slide in and Fernandes blocks his show with Ramsdale charging off his line. Moments later Buonanotte curls inches wide from distance. 30 minutes to go. Saints are dropping a little deep.
Saints pushing for a third
Wout Faes almost scored an incredible own goal as his diving header flies towards his own goal and Hermansen does superbly to save it. Wow. Harry Winks has come on at half time for Leicester to try and drag them back into the game.
Half time: Southampton 2-0 Leicester
A perfect first half for Southampton, who scored two of their three big chances to put themselves in a commanding position. Leicester have looked dangerous and should have pulled at least one goal back. The next goal is so important in this game.
Leicester so close to a goal back!
How did that not go in!? El Khannouss gets way too much space on the edge of the box and curls a beauty towards the far corner but it hits the inside of the post and comes back out. So unlucky for the Foxes.
Downes denied by Hermansen! What a save! Then Leicester are almost in at the other end
A long throw is flicked on and the ball drops to Downes five yards out and he smashes at goal but Hermansen somehow saves and collects the loose ball. Leicester then go up the other end on the break but Saints manage to get back with Downes clearing. Wild 30 seconds or so.
Joe Aribo taps home a flowing team move - Southampton 2-0 Leicester
Walker-Peters surges forward down the left and his cross finds Aribo who steers the ball home. Southampton in dreamland!
Justin sees a shot fly just wide; Leicester pushing for equalizer
Leicester have responded well to going behind and James Justin has an effort which just flies wide. Vardy has a shot deflected wide and from the resulting corner Leicester almost convert at the near post but the effort flies over.
Saints lead as Archer taps home - Southampton 1-0 Leicester
After Joe Aribo had hit the crossbar with a towering header early on, Saints make the most of their fast start. St Mary’s goes wild! Walker-Peters drives forward down the left and finds Ryan Manning and his cross takes a slight deflection and Archer is there to tap home. Huge goal at the bottom.
Southampton lineup
Ramsdale; Sugawara, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Walker-Peters; Aribo, Downes, Manning; Dibling, Archer, Fernandes
Leicester lineup
Hermansen; Justin, Okoli, Faes, Kristiansen; Skipp, Ndidi; El Khannouss, Buonanotte, Mavididi; Vardy
Southampton focus, team news
Ross Stewart is out injured while Jack Stephens is still suspended. Saints have a huge squad to choose from with Will Smallbone and Kamaldeen Sulemana back in training. Russell Martin has tried so many combinations in midfield and attack to try to get his side firing but they’ve scored just four goals this season which is the lowest in the Premier League. Tyler Dibling, just 18 years old, is their biggest hope in attack while goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has been playing well but badly needs a shutout to get his Saints career off and running.
OUT: Gavin Bazunu (Achilles), Ross Stewart (muscular), Jack Stephens (suspension)
Leicester focus, team news
Patson Daka, Hamza Choudhury, and Jakub Stolarczyk remain out, while Jannik Vestergaard should be back in the reckoning against his former club. Leicester continue to start Jamie Vardy up top with Wilfred Ndidi their main creative hub in midfield. Loan signing Facundo Buonanotte got the winner against Bournemouth last time out and was away with Argentina on international duty, while wingers Stephy Mavididi and Abdul Fatawu have both been dangerous so far and enjoyed themselves against Saints in the Championship last season. Leicester will look to sit deep and hit Saints on the counter.
OUT: Patson Daka (ankle), Jakub Stolarczyk (ankle), Hamza Choudhury (shoulder)
Southampton vs Leicester prediction
This has a drawn written all over it. Both teams know how important this is and Saints will dominate possession but struggle to break Leicester down and the Foxes will be tricky on the counter. Southampton 1-1 Leicester.
