U21s Report: Southampton 2 Leicester City 0

The Foxes had lost just twice in their last 12 league fixtures heading into the tie, recording a narrow 2-1 defeat at Liverpool last time out. 

Southampton snatched a late point in Nuneaton in December against City as forward Seager netted in injury time to secure a 3-3 draw for his side. 

In this fixture, defender Liam Moore notched up a valuable 90 minutes, while Michael Cain and Callum Elder both returned from their season-long loan spells with Walsall and Mansfield Town following the end of the League 1 and League 2 seasons. 

A frantic start saw the hosts come just inches away from taking the lead. Lloyd Isgrove flew down the left flank and teed up Jake Hesketh, whose effort deflected off Moore and went just wide. 

Midfielder Jak McCourt came close next, side-footing a low effort wide of Cody Cropper’s upright as the game started to open up. 

At the other end, McCourt did well to put in a fine last-ditch tackle to prevent Seager running through on 18 minutes. The loose ball then fell kindly to the forward, but goalkeeper Adam Smith raced out and dispossessed him before he could get his shot off. 

Despite the Foxes sharing a lot of possession in the first half, it was Southampton who would take the lead. A swift break, lead by Sam Gallagher, saw Seager slot in past Smith from a tight angle to put his side 1-0 up on 36 minutes. 

The lively Seager threatened again two minutes later, forcing Smith into a fine point-blank save, before Cain curled a 25-yard free kick goal-bound that Cropper held on to – an action that brought the first half to an end. 

The Saints could have doubled their lead shortly after the restart. Substitute Sam McQueen raced through, but fired just wide while one-on-one with Smith. 

Mounting a quick counter-attack, McCourt found Harry Panayiotou on the edge of the box, but the St. Kitts and Nevis international saw his effort blocked by skipper Jason McCarthy. 

Seager again went close after the hour mark, firing just wide, but it was Gape who would go on to score the next goal. The midfielder hit a low drive from 20 yards that Smith got a hand to, but couldn’t keep out. 

Leicester looked to have pulled one back with five minutes to play, only for Cropper to punch away Moore’s header, before McCourt curled over from distance to bring the game to an end. 

City round off their 2014/15 U21 Premier League campaign with a home fixture against West Ham United on Monday 18 May (2pm kick-off). 

SOUTHAMPTON: Cropper, Mugabi, Targett, Gape, McCarthy (c), Gardos, Gallagher (McQueen 46), Ward-Prowse, Seager (Sims 86), Hesketh, Isgrove 

SUBS NOT USED: Isted, Cook, Sinclair 

GOALS: Seager 36, Gape 71 

CITY: Smith, Pearson (c), Chilwell (King 68), McCourt, Sesay, Moore, Cain (Davis 46), Rowley, Panayiotou, Stankevicius (Barmby 64), Elder 

SUBS NOT USED: Miles, Maddison 

REFEREE: Andrew Laver