Positives to take despite FA Cup exit - Kingpublished at 19:11 GMT 14 February
19:11 GMT 14 February
Media caption,
Andy King: 'The games are coming, whether we like it or not, we’ve got to front it up and take it in'
Leicester City interim head coach Andy King was keen to point out positives in his side's performance despite their exit from the FA Cup.
The Foxes were able to draw themselves level at St Mary's thanks to an Oliver Skipp overhead kick just after half-time but conceded in extra time to exit the competition.
"I'm pleased with the performance on the main and there were plenty of positives from the game," King said.
"We played four teenagers who I thought went about things reall well, they were very mature in their performance and stuck to the game plan which is how I wanted them to.
"But in key moments we have to be better, we have to be stronger with the challenge on the edge of the box with one minute to go before half time and then don't need to give the penalty away.
"We got oursleves back into the game and we just can't concede from a set play in added time but across the game I was pleased with the performance."
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Pick of the stats: Southampton v Leicester Citypublished at 11:21 GMT 13 February
11:21 GMT 13 February
These two sides know quite a lot about each other - with Tuesday's spectacular Championship victory for Southampton, coming from 3-0 down to win 4-3 at Leicester City, still fresh in the memory.
The Saints are going for a second treble over the Foxes, having also won both league games and an FA Cup tie in the 2007-2008 season.
This will be the eighth FA Cup tie between Southampton and Leicester City and first since the pair met at the semi-final stage in April 2021, with the Foxes winning 1-0 at Wembley that day before going on to lift the trophy with a final win over Chelsea.
Leicester City have faced Southampton twice before in the FA Cup fourth round, winning a reply 4-2 in January 1970 before losing 1-0 to the Saints at this stage in January 2006.
After losing their last home FA Cup game against Burnley 2-1 in January last year, Southampton will be hoping to avoid losing consecutive FA Cup games on home soil for the first time since January 2016.
Leicester have progressed from seven of their past nine FA Cup fourth-round ties since 2014-15 but did lose at this stage last season 2-1 against Manchester United. The Foxes were last eliminated at this stage in successive seasons in 2001-02 and 2002-03.
Leicester's Stephy Mavididi has scored in all three of his FA Cup appearances for the club, getting a goal and an assist in their 2-0 third-round win against Cheltenham this season.
Monga set for return but Vestergaard out for weekspublished at 16:58 GMT 12 February
16:58 GMT 12 February
Image source, Getty Images
Leicester City winger Jeremy Monga will be available for the Foxes' rematch against Southampton on Saturday (15:00 GMT) in the FA Cup. However, defender Jannik Vestergaard has been ruled out for four to six weeks.
Monga, 16, has returned to training after missing out on the 4-3 defeat to the Saints on Tuesday, while Vestergaard, 33, has not been present for the side's past three games.
Foxes caretaker boss Andy King confirmed after the loss to Southampton that the Denmark international was having surgery for a hernia.
"Jannik is going to be out for a while," King said during his media conference.
"It's a shame for us, he's played a lot for this season but apart from that we are OK [with new injuries]."
But with the FA Cup offering a "shop window" for players hoping to impress an incoming head coach, the 37-year-old is aiming to dispel the club's current run of poor form before a new face sits in the managerial seat.
He added: "It'll be almost a little bit different, without the pressure of the three points and our league position, but that doesn't take anything away from the importance of the game [against Southampton].
"We've not been on a run of good form and we need a win to try and change our momentum, we need a win to get the mood in the camp lifted."