Prior to the game both sides were facing an injury crisis with Saints trying to piece together a back line and with Leicester struggling for strikers.
On the Cross verdict: Leicester 1 Saints 2
Prior to the game both sides were facing an injury crisis with Saints trying to piece together a back line and with Leicester struggling for strikers.
Leicester started the brighter which saw the first chance of the game fall to them. McAuley's header from the centre circle put through Ian Hume whose shot was blocked by Davis only for the rebound to fall to Shaun Newton who blazed the shot well over. Minutes later Hayes sent a dangerous ball across the Saints penalty area, but no one could get a touch on it.
Saints pushed looking for their first opening. Fulop cleared to stop Surman getting through before Ifil released John who poked the ball past the Leicester keeper only for the celebrations to be cut short by an offside flag.
Just before the half hour Jonathan Hayes volleyed well wide of the left post, but it was Saints who would take the lead after thirty two minutes.
Youseff Safri's cross from the right was headed back across goal by Nathan Dyer at the far post to find Stern John six yards out who poked the ball past Fulop into the roof of the Leicester net.
Youseff Safri's cross from the right was headed back across goal by Nathan Dyer at the far post to find Stern John six yards out who poked the ball past Fulop into the roof of the Leicester net.
Leicester pressed for an equaliser before half time, Davis came for Newton's corner from the right and although he managed to get a touch on the ball the danger wasn't cleared but Kisnorbo could only put the ball wide at the far post.
With the last kick of the half the Foxes drew level. Kisnorbo's free-kick from the left came to Andy King who from all of thirty yards unleashed a fantastic curling shot into the top right-hand corner.
Second half
The second half began brightly with both sides creating openings. Fulop dived at the feet of Dyer before a Sheehan free-kick from the right saw Carl Cort head wide at the far post.
However, Saints took the lead on fifty four minutes, Ifil's cross wasn't properly dealt with by Fulop whose punch bounced in the area, John couldn't get a shot away but the ball appeared to strike Clemence on the arm.
The home fans and manager alike were infuriated by the decision in what looked like a case of ball ot hand. Surman went straight for the ball after Euell's miss last Saturday and cooly slotted it in to the bottom right-hand corner of the net.
Bradley Wright-Phillips had a chance to double the lead five minutes later setting off on a mazy run down the right and cutting in from the by-line but his shot lacked power. Saints began to press for a third, John just letting the ball get away from him when put in by Surman and a corner flashing across the box with Bennett putting the rebound on the roof of the net from the tightest of angles.
Worrying news for Saints came with six minutes to go as Stearman went in hard on Nathan Dyer who was left in no fit state to continue. It was a blow for Dyer who had been a thorn in the oppositions side all day.
Leicester pushed forward for an equaliser as the game drew to end but couldn't fashion any clear cut chances, Clemence firing wide from twenty yards was about the closest they came.
On the Cross verdict
It brings me great pleasure to report a win today after my first assignment at Hillsborough three weeks ago! I thought we deserved to walk away with the three points today in a game of few clear cut chances. Bearing in mind our injuries in defence the back line was superb today.
Davies and Bennett looked comfortable playing together, they read the game well and looked strong in the air. However, Leicester did not cope with their injury crisis quite so well, they were very poor up front. Carl Cort was well off the pace and was kept very quiet by the Saints defence and what he did do he did badly and he was booed by some sections of the home support when he was substituted.
Saints adopted what is becoming a familiar away formation, 4-5-1 with Dyer and Wright-Phillips supporting a lone striker, today Stern John. The midfield worked hard to fight for every ball Surman and Euell were always on the heals of the opposition and Safri sat in front of the back line well.
On the break we did look threatening, in particular Nathan Dyer whose pace caused problems for Leicester. This grew as the game wore on and resulted in Stearman taking him out in the latter stages of the game with a horrible challenge, I just hope it was merely a knock.
All-in-all a very tidy performance limiting the opposition to half chances and protecting our goalkeeper who really didn't have much to do. This is encouraging, especially for the centre backs, but we need to back this up now with a solid home performance on Tuesday.
The players should need no extra motivation following the events of the that dark day in Sheffield. We need to achieve consistency and maybe playing this 4-5-1 system at home might be the answer. The vocal support was great today again as were the Mandaric songs!
Just a small mention for the Leicester drummer poor guy was knackered after quarter of an hour, but he did help me solve the eternal question, 'who ate all the pies'. Let's get revenge on Tuesday COYR!