Brendan Rodgers says Leicester City had to 'fight like hell' for Southampton win.
The Foxes secured a 2-0 win over Saints on Saturday and now sit in fourth on the table.
"It was always going to be a really hard-fought game," manager Rodgers said after the final whistle.
"Southampton are a very good team, they've got good players, they work very hard.
"I thought we were too passive in the first 20-25 minutes. We weren't running hard enough, getting to second balls and we weren't aggressive enough.
"But then we started to find our way into the game, started to get around it and we talked about just doing the dirty side much better because then that allows you then to sustain your attacks more.
"Youri (Tielemans) ends up playing a great pass and James does what he does best – lovely bodywork and then finishes really well.
"(At) half-time we just reinforced it. Not every game of football in the Premier League is all about nice football. You've got to earn the right in the Premier League.
"This is a league where you've got to fight like hell in every game to get the result and second half we were much, much better at that.
"We were aggressive, created lots of opportunities and worked tirelessly in the game, so overall a very good win. Could have had more goals but delighted with three points."
