Saints once again lost a game on the road that they really should have got something out of and missed a great chance to move up the league.

This was a game where some supporters will blame the usual scapegoats, but the reality of the situation was that we were awful as a team in the first half and that two soft goals were conceded and there was more than one culprit for both of them.

The first goal saw both Reed and Davis miss tackles as well as Jose Fonte failing to shut down the shot, whilst although some would blame Paulo Gazzaniga for a poor clearance, the fact was that the ball still went a fair distance and near the right touchline, there was a lot of work for Leicester to do to score that goal and the real question should be why Fonte went charging over to shut down Jamie Vardy despite Alderweireld already being there meaning that Mahrez was completely unmarked in the centre.

The second half was much better but Saints could not find the goal that would have put Leicester into panic mode, the fact that we had 69% possession showed that we had a lot of the ball, the fact that they scored two and we none showed that we again paid for a lack of concentration and still lack confidence.

But we have to lose as a team and not blame individuals, the fact is that our senior players are just as culpable as the usual scapegoats and none of them stepped up to the plate on Saturday when we really needed them to.

Team selection cannot be blamed for this one, Ronald Koeman picked the right team, it just didn't perform for him in the main and the worrying thing is that it is not really about playing badly, it is about a lack of concentration in defending, that is not just about the defenders but the way we defend certain situations, to be blunt we are not switched on, in each of our last four games we have conceded two goals in all of them, everyone of those goals was down to a lack of concentration at vital times, sometimes several players having a lack of concentration at the same time, we have to get right mentally, too many players seem to think that our previous good form came without having to work for it, we seem to have lost that speed of thought.

In truth though the problem we have is not with the usual scapegoats, it is with the experienced players who should be leading by example.

We missed a great chance here, a win would have seen us leapfrog Spurs and come within a point of Liverpool in fifth, now the reality is that we are playing for sixth and anything less than a win against Aston Villa nest Saturday will see that slip away.

Photo: Action Images

rjh added 09:42 - May 11 Really poor. We have never had a better chance of finishing fifth and we have just thrown it away. Neither Spurs or Liverpool have been winning, such a shame. The way we are going we will probably finish with just a point more than last year, so has it been such a wonderful season after all?????
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Santos added 10:08 - May 11 Very disappointing since April, really should have picked up more points and if we had could still have challenged for the last Champions league spot maybe!! Also I expect I'll see a fine display from Cork tonight, just to emphasise the importance of a strong squad and the make the board realise in this money lead football world that we already had Spiders replacement and could have spent the money else where not like for like. Roll on next weekend moan over!!!

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saintstuinoz added 10:08 - May 11 First time I've had to say this all season, but we were awful. We could have played another 90 minutes and still wouldn't have scored. 70% possession and no goals, and no real chances is pitiful. We definitely need a penetrative, creative midfielder and a mobile forward for next season.
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IanRC added 10:37 - May 11 Very poor, actually have been since the Arsenal game. On this form we would be fighting relegation if we hadn't had such a good start. I don't think Wanyama has completed a pass since he came back from injury. Only Mane looks up for it, again he should have had a penalty but unfortunately on occasion he goes down too easily and referees appear to be discriminating against him. Really hope Morgan can be persuaded to stay otherwise you could argue we actually need a whole scale clear out based on our form in the second half of the season.as a say very poor and I don't exclude Ronald's performance as manager. Does anyone know if we appealled the nonsense Ward Prowse sending off.

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saintmark1976 added 10:43 - May 11 I went to Leicester on Saturday. With respect Nick your report does not reflect how we performed.In all honesty we were truly shockingly poor in every aspect from start to finish. Why is it that we appear unable to change our tactics from one game to another? As I posted on Friday we should have "parked the bus" frustrated them and played on the break. No, what we do but play "tippy tappy" with our usual slow ponderous side ways passing game. With the exception of Mane and Reed in the second half the players looked as though they could not be bothered and were already on their holidays.Pelle spent most of his time with his palms raised to the sky bemoaning his fate and Clyne was in a place far away from the King Power. Credit to you for not blaming Gazza who in my opinion could do nothing with either goal although I suspect that other fans will make him the usual scape goat. Some of the players came over to the fans at the end and received a very poor reception were upon they gave their shirts away to try and make up for a completely dismal performance.The very least they could do! In summary, if 3000 fans can make the effort to travel and pay good money then we should expect the players to give everything.Clearly on Saturday most of the players were not of the same opinion.

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schatfield added 10:59 - May 11 first off, good to see Kelvin dropped, who was frankly awful in the last few games. Agree, not a lot gazza could do with the 2 goals. but aside from Mane, the team did play awful again. And we dont have plan B. We play sideways, sideways, lose possession, then do it all again. Frustrating and I cant see us getting another point this season now. What is worrying me most, if Swansea win tonight they are only a point behind us then with 2 to play.

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SaintBrock added 11:02 - May 11 saintmark1976 added 10:43 - May 11 "I went to Leicester on Saturday. With respect Nick your report does not reflect how we performed.In all honesty we were truly shockingly poor in every aspect from start to finish". 100% spot on, we deserved nothing, we got nothing. Nick, we are all true lifelong fans but the truth is sometimes unbearably hard to swallow. It does not serve any purpose to see everything through rose tinted spectacles.

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SaintBrock added 11:04 - May 11 and by the way, this is The Schneiderlin Effect
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Horndeansaint added 11:06 - May 11 I wasn't at the King Power on Saturday but, to be perfectly honest, I could tell the way we were playing from the Radio Solent commentary. There is a lack of fight in our team at the moment along the same lines as Sheffield United which I did have the misfortune to attend and the Palace cup tie. Common thread? A certain lack of willingness to make that extra effort, play more games but actually try to win something. There are too many players on cruise control who think they have done enough this season. Well I tell you what lads, if it hadn't occurred to you, if Arsenal win the cup, 7th will give us a Europa league QUALIFYING spot and your season will start in July, just as you thought you would be in the early stages of pre season so please do try to get an automatic spot and spare us the embarrassment of losing to some never heard of team from the darkest depths of I know not where.

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derbydog added 11:25 - May 11 The right selection? Elio in instead of Long??
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saintsnutcase added 11:34 - May 11 I am getting really fed up with being told that we have had a great season. We have had a great half season, followed by a lousy half season. Note what Jack Cork says about being undervalued at Saints and how Monk reminds him of "the good managers I worked with at Chelsea". Big implied criticism of Koeman, who never rated him for some reason.
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NewburySaint added 12:31 - May 11 Did they not see that over 3000 of us turned up, paying hard earned cash for watching them going through the motions with a lack of commitment?? Only Reed, Djuricic and Gazzaniga come away with any "credit" whatsoever. I do have to single out 1 player though. I am loathe to do so because I hate criticising players pre & post match (& never do so outwardly during games) but I have never liked S Davis since he signed for us-as I see it he can't tackle, head, shoot / score, strike a ball with any conviction and slows us down when we are going forward-he got away with generally under MoPo because we played keep ball and he's good at passing short, sideways & backwards, and didn't really need to do 'owt else But his total lack of commitment in the tackle that directly led to the 1st goal should ensure he doesn't pull on the shirt again at least this season-I could've put my 1 year old son in front of Mahrez who would've put up better resistance! On a different note, I have never seen Saints play at an away ground where the home fans have created such a noisy and fantastic atmosphere, both during and before the game, so hats off to them for that.

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DPeps added 13:11 - May 11 Well done to Leicester. There's a team fighting for every point, playing for each other, and committed to the club. As for us, jeez... Another lacklustre display that typifies our recent performances. We tailed off last season, but I don't remember our performances being this uninspiring. Gazza will probably get some stick for Leicester's two goals. In truth both goals were down to collective defensive failings so I don't see the point of picking on individuals. Is this what life will be like after Schneiderlin? Without him (and Cork for that matter) we miss anyone in midfield who can pass. These performances should be making it clear to Koeman and co exactly what areas we need to strengthen in, if we hope to do better next season. That's the only positive I can find

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BoondockSaint added 13:54 - May 11 Tried to make a long distance call on Saturday but couldn't get through because the lines were tied up with Saints players phoning it in!
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