Strachan dreams of Europe

The contrasting fortunes of two managers and their clubs could not have been more stark. Gordon Strachan was talking about Europe, while for Dave Bassett it was life in the Nationwide League.

Southampton boss Strachan could be accused of being a little fanciful but the sky is the limit these days for the one-time dead certs for relegation. Leicester manager Bassett, meanwhile, may be a little premature in accepting his bottom side's grim fate, but was at least being realistic.

A man well acquainted with the brink, the Scot is well placed to lay down a blueprint for survival - which means no room for sympathy. 'I understand what Dave Bassett is going through but I don't feel sorry for him,' said Strachan.

'Things have gone well here because the spirit is good. You can laugh at talking about Europe now, but whether it's in five months, six months or a year, at least it is a possibility.'

Bassett, meanwhile, hopes Leicester's new £13million stadium will prove to be their chrysalis. It will if youngsters such as midfielder Matthew Piper and 17-year-old striker Tommy Wright keep chomping at the bit on their learning curve alongside the likes of Muzzy Izzet and Robbie Savage before they and Matt Elliott are inevitably sold in the summer.

'It's good to see the kids taking their chance due to all the injuries we have had,' said Bassett. 'It will make the senior players fight harder for their places.' Izzet fought as hard as anyone and conjured a 'garryowen' which bamboozled Paul Jones enough for the Southampton keeper to make a hash of his save and allow Brian Deane to slot away his second of the afternoon off the rebound.

After a Marian Pahars header reduced Leicester's lead, any luck going the visitors'way was wiped out by an 86th-minute penalty - converted by Pahars - given for shirt pulling on James Beattie, but by whom remains a mystery.