Leeds United 1-1 Southampton
When I previewed the Premier League clash between these sides earlier in the season – a match Southampton won 1-0 – I described it as a meeting of two underrated teams.
My view on that hasn’t changed, even if Leeds have had a largely miserable campaign, partly caused by injuries to key players and punctuated only with the odd bright moment such as Jack Harrison’s hat-trick at the Hammers.
What did surprise me back when I penned the piece back in October, however, was that one media outlet was suggesting that the Saints’ players were expecting coach Ralph Hasenhuttl to be sacked in the coming weeks.
That staggered me for the Austrian has been a real success story since arriving at the club in late 2018, ensuring they remain a team which develops young players with a shrewd eye for a bargain.
Thankfully, if such a move was genuinely being considered by the south coast club’s hierarchy, they relented and I bet they are glad they did.
For with the final run-in now underway, their place in the top flight is all but secured with Hasenhuttl aiming for a top half finish, whereas Leeds, now under new management in the shape of American Jesse Marsch, were still looking anxiously over their shoulder.
That meant the scene was set for another important afternoon for the home side.
Highlights of the game
At least some of the pressure was off the Yorkshire club after Marsch had guided them to two successive victories, both secured by dramatic stoppage-time winners.
Although they could have done without the news that Patrick Bamford’s latest foot injury had left his most dangerous forward touch-and-go to return before the end of the season, the home team were boosted by the news that captain Liam Cooper, Diego Llorente, Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips were all available – the latter on the bench.
For Southampton, who had lost their past three games, there were three changes with Ibrahima Diallo starting in midfield ahead of Stuart Armstrong and Jan Bednarek coming into the defence, replacing Jack Stephens.
Che Adams was handed a starting berth in attack in place of Adam Armstrong.
What we were subsequently treated to was an entertaining, at times end-to-end contest full of Premier League highlights which both sides could have won, yet a draw was a fair result on the balance of play.
Leeds started brightly and Llorente headed wide from a corner before Dan James tested Fraser Forster.
When Harrison poked home from close range just before the half hour, it was a deserved lead for the hosts, although the Saints fought back and Illan Meslier was tested and Stuart Dallas forced to clear off the line.
Adams almost levelled before a player who is excelling from set-pieces produced another moment of magic.
There was still a lot to do when Kyle Walker-Peters was brought down near the edge of the box, but James Ward-Prowse’s free-kick was superbly executed.
If there were SBOTOP Premier League betting odds offered for free-kicks, Ward-Prowse would surely have some of the best odds in Europe.
Last season, the Saints midfielder was the only player in the Premier League to score more than one goal direct from a free-kick – managing four. This season, he leads the way with three, one more than Newcastle’s Kieran Trippier.
To put into context, only free-kick master David Beckham (18) has scored more direct free-kick goals in Premier League history than Ward-Prowse (13), with nine of his strikes coming away from home. This was another beauty.
That was the end of the goals, though not the entertainment, between two underrated sides who are making progress – even if in the case of Leeds, it is long overdue.
Key statistics
Leeds have lost just one of their 14 Premier League home games against Southampton (won seven, drawn six) – a 1-0 defeat in February 1998.
Saints have only managed four goals in their 14 Premier League matches at Elland Road. The others were scored by Kerry Dixon in 1993, David Hirst in 1998 and Fabrice Fernandes in 2002.
Leeds’ tally of 15 league defeats this term already equals their final total from last season.
Their run of 17 consecutive league fixtures without a clean sheet is currently the longest of any top-flight team.
Ward-Prowse is one short of becoming the second person to record 100 Premier League wins with Southampton, emulating Jason Dodd (105).
What’s next?
Leeds travel to Watford next who they meet a week today (April 9), while Southampton entertain Chelsea at the same time.
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