Francis Benali set a Southampton landmark today when, in his 287th first team appearance, he scored his first goal for the club against Leicester at the Dell.

It had taken Benali, who scored with a flying header from a Matthew Le Tissier free kick in the 53rd minute, 11 years to achieve this feat but it came as a welcome relief to Southampton who had been hanging on grimly to a one goal lead since the second minute.

Ironically, Benali, waiting in the Leicester penalty area for the free kick to be taken, signalled to Le Tissier that he wanted the ball.

Le Tissier obliged with a pinpoint cross and Benali, completely unmarked, headed the ball into the far corner of the net before being mobbed by his ecstatic colleagues.

Earlier Le Tissier had given Southampton the lead after only 86 seconds following a powerful run from Kevin Davies who sent a low cross into the goalmouth. David Hirst first tried to force the ball home before the ball ran loose to Le Tissier who scored with his left foot from close in.

From that point until Benali's history-making goal, Leicester had more of the game and they might have scored twice in the first 20 minutes.

After 12 minute Emile Heskey, back after suspension, was clean through but his shot was blocked by the advancing Paul Jones and then the Southampton keeper made a superb save from a Robbie Savage header seven minutes later.

Le Tissier, too, had a chance for Southampton when he had only Casey Keller to beat after 35 minutes but his intended chip was blocked by the keeper.

After Southampton's second goal Heskey hit the outside of the post from the edge of the penalty area with the keeper beaten in another vibrant Leicester attack but the game was fading into obscurity until an amazing decision from referee Steve Lodge of Barnsley eight minutes from the end.

Substitute Egil Ostenstad, who had just come on for Le Tissier, broke clear, rounded the goalkeeper and seemed certain to score only to be deliberately pulled down by Keller just outside the box. It was clearly a red card offence but to the amazement of the crowd Lodge only waved a yellow card at the fortunate Keller.

The reprieved Leicester team rubbed insult into injury when in less than two minutes after this amazing decision Savage pulled a goal back with a left footed shot from 25 yards.

Had Leicester scored again after the referee's mistake all hell might have broken loose but fortunately the home team held out though Jason Dodd had to head off the line from Mustafa Izzet in the dying seconds.

Then, ironically, Ostenstad was booked for dissent just seconds before the final whistle.

Teams

Southampton: Jones, Dodd, Benali, Palmer, Monkou, Lundekvam, Le Tissier (Ostenstad 80), Oakley (Williams 70), Hirst, Davies, Richardson (Hughes 80).

Subs Not Used: Robinson, Flahavan.

Booked: Ostenstad.

Goals: Le Tissier 2, Benali 54.

Leicester: Keller, Savage, Prior (Claridge 80), Elliott, Kaamark, Walsh, Guppy, Lennon, Izzet, Heskey, Fenton (Wilson 62).

Subs Not Used: Watts, Parker, Arphexad.

Booked: Keller.

Goals: Savage 84.

Att: 15,121

Ref: S J Lodge (Barnsley).