7M - Match Preview: Southampton vs Leicester City – FA Cup Fourth Round

After Tuesday night’s wild encounter, Southampton and Leicester City lock horns for the second time in a week, this time with a place in the FA Cup fifth round on the line at St Mary’s Stadium.

The Saints produced the comeback of all comebacks to plunge the Foxes deeper into misery at the foot of the Championship.

Match Preview

Three goals down at the break at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday, Southampton appeared destined for an 11th league defeat of the season — but the visitors had other ideas.

The Saints staged a remarkable second-half revival in the East Midlands, with Shea Charles’ exquisite curling finish deep into stoppage time capping a stunning 4-3 turnaround and securing all three points.

That victory made it three consecutive wins in the second tier, propelling Tonda Eckert’s side up to ninth in the Championship standings — now just a single point adrift of sixth-placed Wrexham.

Eckert’s men now turn their attention to a welcome FA Cup distraction from league duties, having booked their place in this round with a third‑round victory over Doncaster Rovers.

For Leicester City, a season already fraught with turmoil on and off the pitch plumbed new depths on Tuesday night, as they collapsed dramatically in the second half against Saturday’s hosts.

The January dismissal of Marti Cifuentes has failed to spark the desired revival. The Foxes are now staring relegation to League One in the face after extending their winless league run to six matches.

Leicester’s last league victory came on January 5 against Ryan Mason’s West Bromwich Albion. They currently sit above the Championship relegation zone only on goal difference following a six‑point deduction.

Summing up the plight of the former Premier League champions, their only success of any kind since that West Brom win arrived in the FA Cup third round on January 10, when goals from Patson Daka and Stephy Mavididi secured victory at Cheltenham Town.

Southampton FA Cup form: W
Southampton form (all competitions): L W D W W W

Leicester City FA Cup form: W
Leicester City form (all competitions): L D L L L L

Team News

Southampton remain without veteran midfielder Oriol Romeu, sidelined with an ankle injury. Youngster Cameron Bragg is also unavailable due to a hamstring problem.

Leicester, meanwhile, are deprived of the dynamic midfield presence of Jordan James, who is nursing a hamstring complaint. Their options in the centre of the park are further depleted by the absence of Burnley loanee Aaron Ramsey (hamstring).

Southampton possible starting lineup:

Peretz; Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Stephens, Welington; Downes, Charles, Matsuki, Azaz, Scienza; Stewart

Leicester City possible starting lineup:

Stolarczyk; Kristiansen, Aluko, Nelson, Lascelles; Skipp, Winks, Page, Thomas, Fatawu; Ayew

We say: Southampton 2–0 Leicester City

Buoyed by their stirring second‑half fightback at the King Power earlier this week, Southampton should back themselves to finish the job against a fragile Leicester outfit.

The Foxes remain mired in a desperate Championship relegation scrap and appear unlikely to muster the resolve required to spring an FA Cup upset on the road.