Leicester form suggests Claude Puel was not the problem at Southampton

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Southampton have continued to struggle since Claude Puel, while the Frenchman is inspiring improvement at Leicester.

Hours after Claude Puel’s Leicester City had thrilled again in a 2-2 draw at Stoke City, Southampton fell to a woeful home defeat against Burnley.

While Puel has taken four points from two games in the midlands, his former club continue to play the plodding football that proved to be his undoing at St Mary’s.

The ex-Nice coach was sacked after taking the Saints to the League Cup final and an eight-placed finish, with fans unhappy at a dull playing style.

However, Puel’s Leicester side are already showing that he can oversee an exciting, attacking outfit, with Demarai Gray and Riyad Mahrez particularly impressive.

As Mauricio Pellegrino now faces the same issues that Puel did on the south coast, could it be that the Southampton squad is just not suited to free-flowing football?

The Saints dominated possession at home to Burnley, but they rarely looked like scoring and then conceded when the Clarets mustered a first effort on target.

Southampton appeared to lack imagination and they still have not won back-to-back home Premier League games in 2017.

Pellegrino needs time and the Saints need January reinforcements to fix this squad.