Leicester City are so close to the Premier League. Tuesday night was perfect for City with five goals, a clean sheet and a five-star display from Enzo Maresca's side.
Fan favourite Abdul Fatawu scored his first career hat-trick in spectacular fashion. Wilfred Ndidi scored for the second game running and Jamie Vardy found the net once again. The celebrations in LE2 post-match had a real 'champions' feel about it. One more win and they will be back in the top-flight.
Not many will have complaints from last night's win. Leicester were superior to Southampton and finally ran rampant after weeks of narrow victories. The squad deserves credit and so does Enzo Maresca.
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At 7pm on Tuesday night, reaction to the team news was mixed. Many thought Conor Coady had done more than enough to start after his performance against West Brom but Maresca took the experienced centre-back out.
James Justin replaced him at left-back to deal with the pace in Southampton's front three. For anyone who may have forgotten, the Saints' only goal in the reverse fixture came down the left so it was pretty clear that the City boss had a plan to nullify the league’s highest scorers (until last night).
Justin was tasked with dealing with David Brooks in the first half before Samuel Edozie replaced the Welshman. Despite not offering the passing range or defensive solidarity of Coady, the wing-back does possess electric pace to win his duels and delay counter-attacks.
The inclusion of Justin worked a treat for Leicester. Brooks was nullified and Adam Armstrong also struggled. In fact, defensively, it is up there as Justin's best performance of the season.
The centre-back partnership also deserves praise. After coming under scrutiny in recent weeks Wout Faes and Jannik Vesteragaard were superb against Leicester-born Che Adams.
When the nerves were clear for all to see before Fatawu's goal, both defenders did well with well-timed challenges in Southampton's half to win the ball back. Aerial duels were no problem. The second half was more of the same and they played with confidence as the goals came flooding in.
A 5-0 scoreline would normally see the attackers get the plaudits, not necessarily the defenders. They won't miss out. After a tired performance from the likes of Harry Winks and Wilfred Ndidi on Saturday, Leicester's attacking six were all at their best with some of their best counter-attacking football on display.
Hat-trick hero Fatawu put in his best performance of the season. An unusual inverted run, to his standards, behind the left-back opened the scoring before he finally curled home a beauty with his left-foot at the King Power Stadium. His third completed his hat-trick thanks to unselfish work by Jamie Vardy.
Stephy Mavididi may not have added to his two vital goals against Norwich and Birmingham but he deserves credit for his pressing in defence and delivered a perfect cross for Ndidi's header.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall played with confidence and Vardy was on the scoresheet once again with a goal we've been so used to seeing in his 12 years at the club. He has scored 18 goals this season. Every goal in front of the Kop in the second half was celebrated with the pure euphoria that promotion was an inch closer.
Russell Martin called his side's performance "pathetic". He isn't wrong but, for the second time this season, Maresca got the better of the Southampton boss. The switch in defence, swapping Ndidi and Dewsbury-Hall in the No.8 role and additional freedom to Fatawu worked a treat.
Finally, the squad deserve huge praise for their mentality in such a big game. The players would have had pre-match nerves just like the supporters. In previous games, the occasion had proved too much. Last night, it didn't.
Promotion will now be secured if Leeds United lose to QPR on Friday. They will do the job themselves with three points at Preston North End.
