Claudio Ranieri hopes new incentive will inspire an away win for Leicester

21 January 2017 13:24

Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri is ready to offer his squad another reward to aid their away form.

The champions are yet to win away in the Premier League this season having earned their first domestic victory on the road with a 2-1 FA Cup win at Everton earlier this month.

They beat Club Brugge 3-0 in the Champions League in September but their last away league triumph came in a 2-0 win at Sunderland last April.

Last season Ranieri promised pizza to his squad after they failed to keep a clean sheet until October and he is preparing another incentive ahead of Sunday's trip to Southampton.

He said: "Last season we won so many away, this season no - but we are the same. Sooner or later we will soon win away. So far we've only won in Champions League and FA Cup (matches) away from home - now we must change our mood.

"Sometimes you have to change something when something is wrong, you must be stronger and try to change the way. That is what I want to see.

"I saw one month ago we were back - now we're ready to fight again like last season. I watch my players and see them focused and concentrated. We forgot about the title, forgot everything. Now we're very focused on fighting for 40 points.

"I'll ask them if they want pizza or something more for the clean sheet. It would be fantastic to have four or five clean sheets in a row.

"I'll speak to the players now and ask what they want that's nice."

The champions have lost seven and drawn three of their 10 away games before their match at St Mary's with Ranieri wary of the Saints.

He added: "They are a good team, they keep possession well and move the ball quickly. The last game I remember we drew (0-0) but they deserved to win. We must concentrate and be aggressive."

Ranieri is without Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani who are on African Nations Cup duty with Algeria while Leonardo Ulloa, who handed in a transfer request this week, is sidelined with a thigh problem.

Source: PA