Leicester City continued their fine run of form as Riyad Mahrez struck twice to earn his team a 2-0 win over Southampton at the King Power Stadium.

The win, the Foxes sixth in their last seven games, carries them up to 15th in the Premier League table, with two games to go.

Nigel Pearson's side, who have earned a reputation for starting brightly in recent weeks, came roaring out of the blocks and took the lead inside eight minutes through midfielder Mahrez.

The Algerian skipped clear of a Saints defender before drilling a 20-yard strike into the bottom corner of the Southampton goal.

Kasper Schmeichel was called into action as he had to cut out Ryan Bertrand's dangerous cross, but, just as Southampton had began to find their feet, they found themselves 2-0 down.

Mahrez was again the scorer, though his second was not as spectacular as his first as he prodded home a Jamie Vardy cross from close range.

Sadio Mane should have dragged his side back into the game but he could only head over from Steven Davis's cross, before Paulo Gazzaniga pulled off a dramatic save after Mahrez had put Vardy through on goal to keep his side's deficit at just two at the break.

It was Southampton that carved out the first chance of the second half as Eljero Elia sent a powerful effort from 25 yards yards over.

Mahrez then dragged a half-volley wide as he went in search of his hat-trick, before Esteban Cambiasso shot tamely at goal when well placed following a set piece.

Schmeichel tipped Mane's late dipping effort over the bar, and Cambiasso sent Marc Albrighton's delivery inches wide of goal.

Leicester held firm in the final stages to see out the win, with the day's only negative note for the Foxes being the loss of midfielder Matt James, who was stretchered off in the first half with a nasty injury.