Southampton pump a free-kick forward but you guessed it, Robert Huth is there to head away only for Marc Albrighton to clumsily concede a corner. Not the time to concede now, half-time approaching, a brief moment of silence in the ground as the delivery comes in but it's headed clear. Job done.

Leicester will care little for what's going on elsewhere as they take charge of their own destiny in this first half. Who could blame them, they are producing title-winning form.

If they do cast an eye at the vidiprinter at the break though they will see Hull City in the bottom three. They are level with Burnley but Newcastle have just equalised against West Brom to jump out of the relegation zone.

Roy Hodgson is in the house. Who will his eye be on?

Wes Morgan chests down just eight yards from goal for Leicester City but is robbed of possession before he can get a shot off.

This is a canter for the home side so far and you would think Ronald Koeman will fire a rocket in the away dressing room at the break.

Image source, Reuters

What an opportunity Jamie Vardy was just served up, he couldn't have asked for more and that could prove crucial as this day unfolds. The game would have been out of sight.

Still, the Leicester front-three triangle of Vardy, Leonardo Ulloa and Riyad Mahrez are causing problems. They mix force through Ulloa and speed through the other two.

At the other end, Graziano Pelle cannot collect a pass as Jeffrey Schlupp hacks clear. Pelle has been anonymous.

The clapping at the King Power is constant, the action anything but.

Southampton look like they are willing to engage in terms of effort but their minds look far less active. There is nothing creative coming from the side in red and white, no invention, but at the other end, WHAT A CHANCE... Jamie Vardy... saved.

Riyad Mahrez slipped him in, Southampton's defence watched on in admiration, but Paulo Gazzaniga denied him with a low save.

Image source, AP

The manner in which Nigel Pearson's position at Leicester City has evolved is perhaps as complex as the man himself.

Image source, Getty Images

The former central defender was of course manager of Southampton for less than four months in 2008 - a spell in which they survived in the Championship, relegating Leicester on the final day.

He was sacked. So what did he do next? Become manager of Leicester of course. That spell lasted a couple of years, he left for around 17 months and then returned for a second spell.

Mark, Berkshire: Truely abject from the gutless Saints. The failure to provide adequate coverage for Fraser Forster has not helped either.

Ashwin: Are Leicester honestly in 14th as it stands? Story of the season if they finish with 40 points or more.

Riyad Mahrez may argue he has his reward for hard work. Playing behind the front two he has run more than any player on the pitch so far, 3.22km is a shade over two miles.

Robert Huth has been to the fore for his side. Here he goes putting his body in the way of a cross to prevent Steven Davis from getting a header on goal. It's brave defending. Sadio Mane can get a header in though but it's over and these Leicester fans - making a right racket - will take that all day.

Harrison Reeds has a pop from range but Kasper Schmeichel just punches the effort clear, easy peasy. Southampton have to do more than that or hopes of a top-six finish will suffer a blow here.

Trevor Sinclair
Former England winger on BBC Final Score

"Southampton have not started well. Even if you have nothing to play for, you have to have an intensity and go in to the game playing at some pace. But Southampton have not shown that and are 2-0 behind."

Image source, Michael Regan

Image source, Getty Images

The big-little combination up front works a treat as Leonardo Ulloa flicks on, Jamie Vardy gets stuck in in the area to pull back across goal and Riyad Mahrez has an entire postcode of space to prod the ball in off the bar for his second of the game.

Southampton players looked around almost begging for an offside flag but there is no let off for some shocking defending.

A quiet spell, probably not too much of a disappointment for Nigel Pearson as his side hack clear a Ryan Bertrand cross and scrap in midfield to prevent coming under threat.

The duo of Jamie Vardy and Ulloa up top work in tandem, the latter flicking a throw-in on for his diminutive strike partner but the attack is snuffed out.

Image source, .

Leicester's early goal sends them out of the Premier League bottom six and into 14th in the table, two points clear of the drop zone. Newcastle are now a place outside the bottom three.

Kevin Kilbane
BBC Final Score

"It is a tremendous start for Leicester and that is how they have been going in the last few weeks. Mahrez took his goal really well, he checked inside Steven Davis and the goalkeeper couldn't react."

Baz Saikia: Leicester have had a sensational run of form in the latter stage of this season. Six consecutive wins is a delight for Pearson.

Timothy Walton: What's been put in the water in Leicester recently?! Champions League form.

Send us your thoughts on the game to #bbcfootball., external

On comes Danny Drinkwater for the injured Matty James. Not the type of momentum killer Leicester wanted after that Riyad Mahrez goal. We go again. That stoppage will prompt some injury time.