leicester surged seven points clear at the Premier league summit by reeling off a fourth successive 1-0 victory Sunday, with Wes Morgan's first-half bullet header seeing off Southampton.
By netting his first goal of the season, Morgan is a step closer to becoming the first leicester captain in the club's 132-year history to lift the English topflight trophy next month.
With another dogged defensive display and win, Claudio Ranieri's team took full advantage of second-place Tottenham.
A year ago, leicester was seven points from safety stranded at the bottom of the standings before embarking on an astonishing recovery.
Now backed by a seven-point lead, leicester can afford to lose two of its remaining six games if it wins the other four.
There's already a celebratory atmosphere at the modest central England club. The late-season recovery that saved the central England team from relegation improbably carried into this campaign with fans already singing, "We're gonna win the league."
It's the fans who will be lavishing their owner with gifts if the pre-season 5,000-1 title outsiders become one of the unlikeliest champions in English football history.
Southampton was the Premier league team trying to break up the established order a couple years ago. The south coast club couldn't hold onto its place in the top four though and cashed in on its stars.
But leicester is lasting the course with a strong work ethic and togetherness encapsulated by the word "fearless" that features pitch-side.
leicester had a lucky escape in the 32nd minute too when referee Michael Oliver didn't award a penalty to Southampton.
Sadio Mane broke through and rounded goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. His resulting shot was blocked by Danny Simpson's raised right arm but play was allowed to continue. like so often this season, Schmeichel rescued his team by tipping away Jose Fonte's powerful strike from 25 yards (meters).
leicester's breakthrough came in the 38th when Morgan rose above Jordy Clasie to meet Christian Fuchs' cross from the left flank, sending a header beyond goalkeeper Fraser Forster.
United beat Everton 1-0
Anthony Martial kept Manchester United a point behind neighbor Manchester City in the quest for Champions league qualification on Sunday, clinching a 1-0 win over Everton.
The 20-year-old Martial netted in the 54th minute at Old Trafford on the day United great Bobby Charlton had a stand named after him during a pre-match ceremony.
The 78-year-old Charlton, who remains a United director, was accompanied on the field by wife Norma to see his name unveiled above the South Stand.