Burley made two enforced changes with the suspended Kenwyne Jones being replaced by supersub Bradley Wright-Phillips and Nathan Dyer coming in for the injured Drew Surman. The real worry was on the bench with Saints fielding three central midfielders in Prutton, Viafara and Licka, an inexperienced striker and no defenders at all.
The settled Saints line-up showed, with Saints in complete control from start to finish against surely one of the worst sides to visit St. Mary's this season. You had to feel sorry for the Leicester fans having to sit through an uninspired Leicester performance in the kind of conditions they would have relished when so successful in the Premiership.
Credit to the groundstaff for ensuring the game went ahead despite torrential downpours before and during the game. As it was the pitch held up well despite a growing mudbath on the Itchen side of the stadium.
Saints dominant midfield did our best to play our usual passing game, but also got stuck in well against a strangely subdued Leicester team, the aggressive Tiatto aside, with Wright and Pele impressive.
The back five also performed well as a unit limiting Leicester to one real chance late on which was fired across the goal by Fryatt.
Davis
Ostlund, Lundekvam, Baird, Bale
Dyer (Prutton, 38), Pele, Wright, Skacel (Viafara, 84)
Rasiak (McGoldrick, 89), Wright-Phillips
Subs: Bialkowski, Licka
On the Cross verdict
That was one of the most convincing wins of the season and puts us back on track after wobbles against Sheffield Wednesday and Palace. With virtually all the sides around us winning, it was vital that we got the three points today to maintain our fourth position and keep the gap to second place just the three points.
On an afternoon better suited to rugby, we rarely looked in trouble enjoying the kind of territorial advantage that Sir Clive Woodward would have approved of. The goals went in at the perfect times for Saints, meaning we were able to conserve energy at the end and give a runout to David McGoldrick, who should have done better when clean through.
The real test after 90 minutes on a heavy pitch will be how we react on Monday against Plymouth. Injuries are starting to put pressure on our squad and it is asking a lot for the same players to play twice in three days, thanks to the bizarre festive fixture list.
As it is, we need the three points after the two previous draws to keep up the pressure on second place and ensure that we consolidate our position towards the top. The table remains incredibly tight with Cardiff a mere two points behind in eight, reminding us that we are just a couple of bad results from slipping out of the play-off positions.
Man of the match: 'There's only one Pele' and he enhanced his growing reputation as a classy midfielder with a dominant performance, full of pace, power and skill and capped with a well taken first ever goal for Saints.
Cameo of the day: Could this be the last time we see David Prutton in a Saints shirt? Short of his best after so long out, but was never short of effort and enjoyed his fortuitous rebound for the goal. Showed where he wants to be playing his football with a memorable celebration high fiving the Chapel Stand.
Lemon of the day: Viafara was on late and keen to impress and showed his electric pace to charge down the right flank only to backheel with no Saints player within 30 yards of him. One of the players of the first half of the season, he will surely play his part in the season to come.