Claudio Ranieri took the blame for confusing his Leicester City players with complicated formation changes as their 3-0 defeat to Southampton put his hapless side on course for the worst title defence in history.
Southampton’s third goal, scored by Dusan Tadic from the penalty spot to add to strikes from James Ward-Prowse and Jay Rodriguez, took Leicester City past the 36 Premier League goals they conceded in the whole of last season.
This was their second defeat by that scoreline in succession having been beaten by Chelsea a week previously.
The relegation places are only five points behind them and the Sunday defeat yesterday left them on 21 points, matching the position top-flight reigning champions Ipswich found themselves in after 22 games in 1963.