I said in the preview that sometimes something has to break the circle when you are in a bad run, that seemed to have happened yesterday at St Mary's.

When you are on a bad run you need something to break the circle that just seems to keep looping round, after four straight league defeats Saints were in desperate need for that something to happen.

Was it the late Shane Long winner against Norwich in midweek ? or was it the departure of Jose Fonte ? or perhaps a combination of both !

Whatever it was Saints looked a different team than the ones in previous matches and this was probably helped by the fact that although there were large scale changes from that Norwich cup win, Claude Puel had put out just about his strongest side, yes perhaps you would argue the toss about one or two positions, but that would always be the case, but given what was available this was a well set up line up.

The team seemed to ave a different spirit about it, it played with energy and it played with confidence and it put in what was the best performance of the season.

We dominated from start to finish and took our chances well, indeed we could easily have had two more and really made it a rout for a Leicester side who looked more like the relegation candidates of two seasons ago than the Champions of last.

But that should not take anything away from Saints and there was always the threat that Leicester could mount a fightback as they did at Stoke a few weeks ago.

But you sensed that would not happen, each player seemed to have a determination missing in recent games and from the moment that James Ward Prowse swept the ball home in the 26th minute it was Saints in the driving seat.

Ward Prowse had probably his best game for Saints, it wasn't just the goal, but the way he ran the midfield and brought the other around him into play, he had the hard working Romeu alongside him and Hojbjerg who although initially not having a great time of it, made his performance good by a willingness to work hard and retrieve any mistakes.

Indeed Saints had a free flowing style missing for most of the season, they have been accused of not being entertaining, but that could not be levelled in this game, it was about attack and the two full backs constantly surged forward to put in crosses.

Six minutes before the break and Jay Rodriguez showed that he can get back to his best form crashing in a volley from a tight angle appearing at the back post when the visitors defenders thought the ball had passed by them safely.

Now Saints were in command and were not going to let it go.

In the second half they could have doubled their lead, they thought they had a third when Wes Morgan headed into his own net but this was ruled offside, TV replays showed that the linesman got it right, but it was as tight a call as you could get.

Pierre Emile Hojbjerg should have scored when he read a poor ball superbly and went through on goal but skewed his shot wide.

They did get three when Shane Long burst through and was bundled over, Tadic despatching the penalty with aplomb and Long almost got his name on the scoresheet with what would have been virtually the last kick of the game if he had connected with a great cross that dissected the keeper and his defence.

But it was to be only three but Saints could leave the pitch with their spirit and confidence high before the trip to Anfield on Wednesday, they had dominated in all areas, and looked in good shape with a display that perhaps only the win over West Ham back in September could match.

Only downside was the injury to Virgil Van Dijk, Albert Steptoe signed by Leicester from Oil Drum Lane Vets in the Wormwood Scrubs league making his only meaningful contact of the game with not the ball but Van Dijk.

The Dutchman tried to continue but was in pain, it looked like an impact injury rather than ligament damage though and hopefuly Van Dijk gong off was as much precaution ahead of the League Cup semi as neccessary.

But Van Dijk was able to walk normally off the pitch without any help and didn't appear to even be limping and that has to be a good sign.

This was the day when Saints clicked into gear again, the first win of an important week, the hope is that by the end of it this season will have caught alight.

Photo: Action Images

Sanguin added 09:27 - Jan 23 It was a great game, it feels like it’s been a while since we embarrassed a team in this way. I don’t feel that we played significantly better than we have in some of the games we’ve lost this season but Leicester were a shambles and we took enough of our chances to see the game out comfortably. JWP was man of the match for me, even without the goal. Hojbjerg needs another year to come good. Yoshida is looking solid enough this year, but both he and Stephens made a couple of poor passes straight to the opposition. Stephens is promising but his headed clearances are weak. I really hope that van Dijk isn’t too injured, we can’t afford to lose him and Fonte in the same week.

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ItchenNorth added 09:39 - Jan 23 I felt before the game that this would be a comfortable for Saints. Leicester are a terrible side and Saints haven't been playing that badly recently (bar Norwich). If we scored first, we'd be fine. It was perhaps the best team performance since Inter at home, but LCFC were very poor. I also think that Fonte leaving must have had a positive effect on the players mindset. For sure, as fans we all wanted the Fonte of last season again, but when bridges are burnt (by whoever); negativity surroundings this will rub off on the dressing room, no question about it. Now, if we can just ditch the atmosphere killing My View song as well ...........! Still need a striker, but also now a centre back.

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SanMarco added 09:43 - Jan 23 Yes it was entertaining - Leicester were poor but then so were West Brom. The difference here was that once we got the goal we stayed on top and got a second. Good to see JWP play well. Hojbjerg is a bit of a puzzle, that shot in the second half would have embarrassed a pub player. I suppose one note of realism is to say that at Wet Spam and Bournemouth we scored three against teams playing very poorly and we felt we had turned a corner. That will only be so if we play well on Wednesday. Come next Sunday we need to be at Wembley and/or in the fifth round - otherwise it will be a dull end to the season (at least not a relegation fight!) There will of course be comment re Fonte departing, VVD getting injured and that 'replacement' Les promised us not being in place. To go into our biggest cup game in years with no first choice CBs would seem to be extremely careless. We will need to score a couple at Liverpool to go through - and that will be if we defend well...

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steve73 added 10:26 - Jan 23 No wise words to add, just makes a nice change to feel happy on Monday morning for once!
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aceofthebase added 10:26 - Jan 23 The only difference I saw in our performance, and even the team selected was that we managed to get three goals. We have been playing well in most games and it has not been boring. The team rotation whilst in Europe was really necessary, perhaps VVD could have been rested for this match as his replacement played well and we would not have our best player injured. We stand a chance against Liverpool, just wish I was younger and could get to Anfield,

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perazi added 10:53 - Jan 23 Great three points, so badly needed. Yes, Leicester were poor, but we didn't give them a sniff and in the first half our midfield three were very good. I've been a critic of Ward-Prowse but his first half yesterday was very good - energy, quicker tempo with his passes, making himself available, a couple of good free kicks and of course the sumptuous goal - he faded in the 2nd half, but more displays like that and he might start being the player lots of people claim him to be. Romeu, PEH, Cedric, Yoshida all good and Redmond, Tadic and Rodriguez all had their moments. Let's hope VVD is OK to face Liverpool although watching him leave the field you'd have to say he is 50/50 at best.

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lemmsy added 11:03 - Jan 23 At last some sensible & positive views, imo opinion we haven't been that bad recently & weren't that much better yesterday things just went our way.sometimes that's what you need to turn things around, on another day jwp's effort would have been saved yet he went on to have a really good game. Everyone knows we need another sting frontman & statistics show we create the most chances outside the top 6,injury to CA & lack of replacement is hardly Claude puels fault & yet he's getting so much stick.its very easy too say go and buy a striker but when you have to get it right ( for example Crystal Palace forked out £28 mill @ benteke & it's hardly paying off).were a draw away from Wembley & a win away from the top ten & Swansea have shown Liverpool aren't invincible. There's an obvious away day plan so I won't repeat it. Obviously I'm a positive saints fan but I just think the moaners should sometimes appreciate wot we've got

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SonicBoom added 11:09 - Jan 23 I think the difference was that we were getting the ball forward quickly. There wasn't the ponderous sideways and backwards passing of previous games and we looked a different side.
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saintmark1976 added 11:10 - Jan 23 At the risk of being called negative. Whilst I appreciate that you can only beat what is in front of you Leicester were by their own managers omission, very poor. They played a new system and got it wrong. Still a good and very welcome result and nice to see J W P on the score sheet. Interesting to see the champions fall this season. I wonder if there decline is anything to do with much tighter rules in regard to holding the opposition.On occasions last season it looked to me that Huth and Morgan would have been better suited to playing rugby. The only downside yesterday being the injury to VVD which it is suggested was caused by Vardy. I suppose it makes a change from diving for penalties?

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LordDZLucan added 11:10 - Jan 23 It’s now clear to me that getting rid of Fonte was the right thing to do. I didn’t think so a few days ago. The team looked like a weight had been lifted from its shoulders. The brooding presence of Fonte has clearly had a detrimental effect on the team as well as the supporters. In future all contractual issues etc. have to be settled one way or the other in the summer. We must not under any circumstances let this situation happen again. But onto the football. It was a great result and we played some great stuff but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. That was not a very good Leicester side. One other thing. If van Dijk goes does anyone fancy Harry Maguire of Hull as a replacement? I noticed him a few games ago and he looks like a carbon copy of Virgil.

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halftimeorange added 11:47 - Jan 23 Yesterday Saints faced a team which was slow in defence and allowed us to play an open game. We have met similar opposition this season and not always done so well because they have packed their defences and given us no space. Leicester came to attack and the midfield was wide open allowing the normally one-paced JWP to spray his passes around without them being intercepted. After seeing this game I wouldn't be at all surprised to see the Foxes relegated. It was noticeable that a palpable air of jitters came over the crowd and the players after Van Dijk's removal and we can thank the dynamic Romeu for keeping the sense of purpose and driving the boys onto victory. Tadic's glorious penalty was a rare contribution from him in the second half and Puel should work on his energy, which Koeman failed to do, substituting him or only using Dusan for cameos. He is far too skilled for that. A good win but against a disorganised opposition.

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bstokesaint added 12:34 - Jan 23 What a great feeling to be reminded of, discussing a Saints' victory with colleagues on a Monday morning. I don't want to get carried away though because I don't think we got as bad as some people have been saying overnight and I don't think we're necessarily great again. We still really badly need cover in central defence and another striker. It's also worth noting that JWP had a really decent game to remind us all of why he's in the side. I'm glad MOTD2 chose to highlight the fact he turned possession over in our favour 14 times as well, in addition to his goal and assist because it shows what else he can contribute to the team. This is just the result we need going into the Liverpool game, especially with The Swans showing Liverpool can be defeated at home. Let's just hope VVD is fit after being savaged by that Leicester thug.

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GeordieSaint added 12:44 - Jan 23 I really enjoyed the bit when Virgil went to give FF the armband but he passed it on to Yoshida. It was symbolic in urging him to step up and organise and lead the back four. Well done lads, time to finish the job at Anfield.
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schatfield added 13:35 - Jan 23 great game but the loss of VVD makes me v worried about the scousers now.....our only choice of defender pairing is now a youngster and someone who could barely get in the team a month ago. Worrying times if anyone else gets wondered - we have to buy a defender this month!
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Consigliere added 13:58 - Jan 23 My only point to add is that when we were awarded a penalty, the bloke next to me asked "who normally takes the penalties". I was reduced to answering - "I don't know - I can't remember the last time we got one!"
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Consigliere added 13:58 - Jan 23 My only point to add is that when we were awarded a penalty, the bloke next to me asked "who normally takes the penalties". I was reduced to answering - "I don't know - I can't remember the last time we got one!"
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leighsaint added 14:12 - Jan 23 I think we only scored 3 goals because Leicester didn't pack their defence but kept an open and trying to be offensive team for the 90 minutes. If they had come and played 10 at the back like so many other sides would we still have won like so many of our recent defeats. I can only applaud Leicester for not being negative even if they are a poor side, I think they try to play attacking football

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BoondockSaint added 14:43 - Jan 23 Happy with the three points! Devastated Virgil gets hurt (right after Fonte leaves-typical Saints luck!) Shocked JWP actually put the ball on goal-never mind scored. Resigned to the fact we won't sign anyone this window.
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smiffdub added 16:41 - Jan 23 Great result, and it shows that the players can actually attack and score when Puel takes off the shackles. The dreary negative stuff we've been seeing (where Puel sets out for 0-0 and gambles we can win as many 1-0 as 0-1) is all down to tactics rather than team choice (the midfielders apart from Romeu are supposed to interchangeable). When you see 3 midfielders playing holding roles, that's pure Puel. When he lets them out of jail like the Everton game, Bournemouth, as well as yesterday and the last couple of games, they start to look as if they cn play football. Let's hope Puel is as encouraged by the success as much as the fans are! Meanwhile, though, even if he decides to play more positively, he STILL needs to be able to have more confidence in his front three to put the ball in the net. Tadic and Rodriguez are not top-class this season but I can see why you'd persevere with them. But we've had 30 games of Redmond and he isn't getting any better.

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davepid added 16:42 - Jan 23 Saints penalty takers. Last season it was Tadic in the main though he missed one at Burnley. Having said that JWP took the one we had at home to WBA. This season it was Austin ( Hull away and Sparta Prague ) and now its back to Tadic it would appear.
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SaintPaulVW added 17:34 - Jan 23 Great to see passes being played into space for people to run on to and full backs getting forward. JWP was the best I've seen him. Just wish Hjobjerg and Redmond could hit the target. Was a bit worried that Long was again being starved of game time after scoring last week but he looked electric when he came on. JRod is definitely getting there too, Finally!. Hopefully we're over our traditional, well last three years, mid season slump and we can start to get back in amongst it now. Fingers crossed for VVD for Wednesday. COYR!

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SanMarco added 19:33 - Jan 23 davepid - didn't Tadic also miss vs Inter?
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SaintBrock added 19:58 - Jan 23 The razzmatazz over Sims signing a new deal surely confirms that Les won't be doing any transfer business this week. The timing of these announcements is pathetic, does Les really think we are as thick as him? Puel on the other hand did not say 'no' to Jagielka or another CB being recruited so if Puel is almost saying 'yes' to reporters why can't he stand up to Les and make it a resignation issue, because if we lose the two big games this week and also lose against the revitalised Swans next then sure as hell he will catrry the can and not Silicon Les.

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SaintBrock added 20:02 - Jan 23 As for the match, Leicester came to win and that made it easier for us to play our "set attack" game. Had they sat back with nine players behind the ball
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SaintBrock added 20:07 - Jan 23 ...as most other struggling sides tend to do at SMS then one doubts we'd be feeling quite as elated today. Am I the only one who thought Cedric was the true MotM yesterday? He is rapidly becoming a class act and might be already the best RB in the PL. One more to worry about if some of the big continental clubs are watching.
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