Championship: Southampton 0 Leicester City 2

Southampton failed to regain top spot in the Championship after losing 2-0 at home to Leicester City on Monday.

They made a nightmare start trailing 2-0 inside 26 minutes with David Nugent and Matt Mills finding the net.

It was Southampton’s second successive home defeat and they remain three points behind leaders West Ham and just one ahead of third-placed Cardiff.

It was a welcome return to St Mary’s for Leicester boss Nigel Pearson, who was Southampton manager for three months in 2008,as his team won for only the second time in eight league games.

Saints were dealt a blow ahead of the game, with Adam Lallana missing out due to a groin problem.

Ex-Portsmouth striker Nugent gave the visitors a 15th minute lead, cutting in from the left past Dan Harding, before firing a stunning right foot shot past home side keeper Kelvin Davis.

Leicester deservedly doubled the lead in the 28th minute, when former Saints defender Mills headed in Sean St Ledger’s left wing cross.

Saints did create some opportunities, with Jack Cork firing over when well placed just before half-time and Dean Hammond’s 54th minute header forcing a good save from visiting keeper Kasper Schmeichel.

But Leicester never looked in serious danger of relinquishing their lead, and were unfortunate not to make it 3-0 when Paul Konchesky hit the inside of a post with a curling free-kick.