Leicester v Southampton 21/08/96 7.45

Leicester               (2) 2 Southampton             (0) 1 FT
Heskey 6,42                   Le Tissier 68 (pen)

Teenage striker Emile Heskey served up a memorable first-half double as Premiership new boys Leicester, written off by many as relegation material, proved they will not be an easy touch this season at Filbert Street.

The 18-year-old England Under-21 international, who terrorised the Southampton defence with his pace and power, settled Leicester's nerves by sweeping home a Scott Taylor cross at the near post after five minutes.

And three minutes from the break he had the home crowd in raptures with a 25-yarder that screamed past Dave Beasant into the roof of the net to leave Saints with a mountain to climb.

Saints boss Graeme Souness brought on Gordon Watson for Francis Benali seven minutes after the break to give the visitors more attacking options and Matt Le Tissier threw them a lifeline with a 68th minute penalty.

Jim Magilton played a neat one-two with Le Tissier and had only Kasey Keller to beat when Taylor tripped him from behind. Le Tissier stepped up to send Keller the wrong way and Saints were back in the hunt.

But there was no way back for the Saints when skipper Barry Venison, already booked in the first half, got his marching orders for a show of dissent when Leicester were awarded a corner eight minutes from time.

Both sides had opened their campaigns with goalless draws - Leicester at Sunderland and Southampton at home to Chelsea - but the Filbert Street faithful did not have to wait long for Leicester's first goal of the season.

Walsh, spotting space on the left side of the Southampton defence, hit a long diagonal pass, which gave Taylor a free run to the right byline.

His low cross was forced home from close range by the muscular Heskey, who used his strength to hold off a challenge from Alan Neilson.

Spencer Prior's failed attempt to clear Jason Dodd's cross looked to have presented Le Tissier with a gift-wrapped 11th-minute equaliser, but Keller came to rescue with a reflex block.

Leicester soaked up a spell of sustained pressure leading up to the half hour as Saints dominated possession without finding a cutting edge in the last third.

The home side's more direct approach - long balls hit into the channels for front men Heskey and Steve Claridge with midfield duo Taylor and Muzzy Izzet making supporting runs - looked more likely to produce further goals and three minutes from the break Heskey delivered in spectacular fashion.

There was no obvious sign of danger when Heskey received possession 30 yards out, but he rode an attempted tackle from Venison and unleashed a right foot shot of blistering power into the roof of the net past a startled Beasant.

Matt Oakley blazed high over the bar from the edge of the area after Neil Shipperley's lay-off had carved out the opening and the half closed with Keller confidently claiming a Neil Shipperley header from Magilton's inviting cross.

Leicester: (5-3-2) Keller, Grayson, Whitlow, Watts, Walsh, Prior, Izzet (Lawrence, 71), Lennon, Taylor, Claridge, Heskey.

Subs not used: Poole, Rolling, Robins, Campbell.

Booked: Lennon.

Southampton: (5-3-2) Beasant, Dodd, Charlton (Potter, 78), Le Tissier, Venison, Neilson, Dryden, Shipperley, Benali (Watson, 53), Magilton, Oakley (Heaney, 53).

Subs not used: Maddison, Moss.

Booked: Venison, Le Tissier, Dodd, Dryden.

Attendance: 17,562.

Referee: M Riley (Yorkshire).