Leicester and Southampton were forced to settle for a share of the spoils
after wasting promising goalscoring chances on the way to a stalemate at the
Walkers Stadium.
The Foxes' Elvis Hammond was guilty of heading wide from point-blank range
while the Saints' Neil McCann needed too much time when free in the opposite
penalty box.
It had been the hosts who were on the offensive early on as a fierce Momo
Sylla effort from the edge of the box was parried by Southampton keeper Antti
Niemi ahead of Hammond squandering a free-header from four yards out after Sylla
had found the striker with a cross from the right.
Hammond chanced his arm again moments later but dragged his 20-yard effort
wide before Ricardo Fuller was narrowly wide with a snap-shot hit from range in
the 10th minute.
Then, in the 18th minute, the Foxes were ripped apart as Fuller brushed aside
Patrik Gerrbrand and advanced inside from the right channel before spreading
wide to McCann.
But the unmarked Scottish winger took his time as Paddy McCarthy closed and
when the eventual shot came, the ball deflected off the lunging defender and was
batted away by keeper Robert Douglas.
At the other end, a Ryan Smith shot was deflected wide for a corner which then
was followed by a Smith flag-kick from the right side met by Dublin although
Niemi pulled off a spectacular save from point-blank range.
And then Dublin's follow-up was blocked by Danny Higginbotham.
But Leicester were given a scare late in the half as a well-weighted pass from
Rory Delap set free 16-year-old prodigy Theo Walcott who was clattered by
Douglas outside the box.
Referee Steve Tanner was quickly on the scene and cautioned the Foxes
goalkeeper but with Walcott continuing to receive treatment on the touchline,
the Saints could make nothing of their free-kick.
Both sides ran out unchanged for the start of the second half which opened
with the Saints applying plenty of pressure.
And the visitors went close to opening the scoring when Alan Maybury gifted
possession to Nigel Quashie although the Saints skipper's pass wide to Djamel
Belmadi was overhit and allowed Douglas the opportunity to race from his line
and collect.
At the other end, a Patrick Kisnorbo shot was blocked by Claus Lundekvam
before Smith threatened for Leicester with little more than 20 minutes remaining
but after he had been brought down by Higginbotham, the on-loan Arsenal winger
could only thump the resultant free-kick into Southampton's wall.
In the 78th minute a trademark long throw from Rory Delap caused panic in the
Leicester lines as Douglas advanced but fumbled his catch only for the ball to
rebound out of play off Michael Svensson.
Fuller made life difficult for Douglas when the Foxes shotstopper was beaten
in the air to a high-bouncing ball but the keeper redeemed himself with a save
from Walcott.
And Niemi was tested in the 90th minute but palmed away a flying header from
substitute Iain Hume.
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