Saints were knocked out of the FA Youth Cup at the fifth round stage as they fell to a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Leicester at St Mary’s.

Anthony Limbrick’s side made a flying start to the game but were flat after that as a strong and physical Leicester team got their noses in front, partly thanks to some Saints defensive generosity, and then shut their hosts out of the game.

Saints were just a win away from making the quarter-finals of the prestigious tournament for the first time since 2006 when names such as Adam Lallana were in the team.

It was doubly frustrating with the prospect of an appetising home draw with Birmingham waiting for the winners.

However, it was impossible to argue with the result as Saints worked hard but were soundly beaten.

The game started at a furious pace with a flurry of chances.

Saints might have been 2-0 up after just four minutes as they put Leicester under early pressure.

Marcus Barnes found himself firing past keeper Max Smith-Varnham but left back Ben Chilwell had tucked around onto the line to hack clear.

Moments later it was the woodwork that got in the way as Will Wood played in a left wing cross that was met first time at the near post by Callum Slattery.

His volley with the outside of his boot from inside the six yard box struck the outside of the post.

That opening salvo proved to be as good as got it for Saints.

Leicester roared into life for the first time and fired a warning shot to Saints as Layton Ndukwu’s effort from 25 yards struck the post.

The Foxes weren’t to be denied a second time though as they took the lead on nine minutes.

Ollie Cook’s low clearance was picked up by Keenan King who steered a right footed shot from the edge of the area across goal and into the far corner.

The rhythm of the half was disrupted by a serious looking knee injury for Saints defender Kyle Clinton which saw him stretched from the field but, just as Limbrick’s men looked to have recovered and found their feet again, they were hit by a sucker punch ten minutes before half time as Leicester doubled their advantage.

It was another disappointing one for Saints to concede as Ndukwu played a one-two and was allowed to drift into the area and drill a shot over Harry Isted at the near post and into the opposite top corner.

Saints had one more opening before the break as Josh Debayo cut the ball back to Harley Willard but he scuffed his shot from 12 yards out and it was easily cleared.

The second half was a less entertaining affair as Leicester, with a lead to defend, sat deeper and made themselves hard to break down.

For their part Saints struggled to create.

After Harvey Barnes had fired into the side netting for the Foxes and Wood had fired in a low drive from 40 yards which well struck but straight at the keeper, Leicester almost put the result beyond doubt.

A scramble in the Saints box saw shots from King and Cedric Kipre blocked before Chilwell’s shot was headed off the line.

Second half sub Dan Demkiv did add a spark of life to the Saints attack and when he cut in from the left wing and unlashed a dipping right footed shot Smith-Varnham tipped onto the bar and over.

Saints got away with one late on as Cook’s weak back header was intercepted by King but he fired his shot into the turf and Isted was able to turn it wide with an outstretched leg.

Even with that save there was no way back for Saints, who now have to focus on the business of the league and put dreams of cup glory on hold for another year.

Saints: Isted, Mason, Clinton (Debayo 14), Cook, Wood, Jones (Olomola 84), Little, Slattery, Willard (Demkiv 60), Sims, Barnes.

Leicester: Smith-Varnham, Johnson, Chilwell, Choudhury, Moore, Kipre, Ndukwu (Bailey 90), Miles, King, Barnes, Fox.