It was around this time last season that Leicester hardened their title challenge by cementing defence. Kasper Schmeichel, Danny Simpson, Wes Morgan, Robert Huth and Christian Fuchs formed a wall seldom broken and the clean sheets built up.
Twelve months on and the same back five are crumbling too often, conceding in a manner at odds with reputation. The three goals let in against Southampton took Leicester's Premier League total to 37, already one more than in the entirety of their championship campaign and concern that a relegation fight will extend into May refuses to abate.
Leicester's primary objective in the January transfer window has been to fix the problem, with Wilfred Ndidi brought in to provide a protective screen in midfield.