Former Championship leaders Southampton went down to a 2-0 home defeat by mid-table Leicester here on Monday.

The defeat leaves the Saints three points adrift of leaders West Ham while Leicester – managed by former Southampton boss Nigel Pearson – moved up to 13th, just five points off the play-off places.

First-half goals from David Nugent and Matt Mills – against the club where he started his career – were enough to give them only their second win in eight matches.

The Foxes took the lead in the 15th minute when former Portsmouth and Preston star Nugent cut in from the left and curled a fine 20-yard effort past Kelvin Davis.

Mills put them 2-0 up 11 minutes later, with a powerful stooping header.

Southampton surprisingly had little to offer in coming back even though they have the best attack in the Championship with 50 goals.

However, only former West Ham and Liverpool defender Paul Konchesky went close – hitting the post in the second-half.

Leicester held on to secure their first win at St Mary’s and register the double over Saints having been the first team to beat them this season with a 3-2 home success in August.