Leicester City are on the brink of securing automatic promotion to the Premier League after delivering a dominant 5-0 home victory over Southampton in the Championship on Wednesday, propelled by a stunning hat-trick from Abdul Fatawu and additional goals from Wilfred Ndidi and Jamie Vardy.
The Foxes, who were relegated from the Premier League last season, can confirm their immediate return to the top flight with a victory at Preston North End on Monday or, failing that, at home to Blackburn Rovers on the final day of the season. They could even secure promotion sooner if Leeds United lose at Queens Park Rangers on Friday.
Fatawu opened the scoring for Leicester in the 25th minute, evading the Southampton defense to slot the ball past goalkeeper Alex McCarthy. Saints manager Russell Martin was left fuming, claiming that Che Adams had been fouled in the build-up to the goal.
Leicester doubled their lead in the 62nd minute through Ndidi, who headed home from close range after a cross from Stephy Mavididi. Fatawu then produced the best goal of the night in the 75th minute, cutting in from the right and unleashing an unstoppable shot across McCarthy.
Vardy completed the rout in the 79th minute, firing past McCarthy after a pass from Fatawu. Fatawu capped off his impressive performance with his third goal in the 81st minute, finishing off a slick passing move involving Vardy.
The victory leaves Leicester four points clear of Leeds United with two games remaining, while Southampton are now six points behind Leeds and their hopes of automatic promotion are all but over. The Saints’ goal difference is also now 19 inferior to Leeds, making a top-two finish highly unlikely.
