Sunday Times 22/4/07
Leeds slide closer to drop
Southampton 1 Leeds 0
Rob Maul at St Mary’s stadium
IF, AS appears increasingly likely, Leeds United, European Cup semi-finalists in 2001 and First Division champions only 15 years ago, are relegated this season into the third tier of English football for the first time in their 88-year history, this match could prove to be the most decisive moment in what has been a long and arduous season.
Just when it seemed that Leeds had managed to secure a valuable and hard-fought away point, thus maintaining pace with Hull City, who remain above the relegation zone — and given themselves the essential added belief that they can avoid demotion to League One — they conceded a dramatic but cruel winner to Southampton substitute Bradley Wright-Phillips. Now, with two matches remaining the safety gap is just one point but Leeds, significantly, have an inferior goal difference.
Staffordshire official Tony Bates’s decision to send off experienced midfielder Alan Thompson in the 34th minute proved to be the turning of the match and could possibly have longer-term ramifications for the season. "All I do is talk about referees, yet they don’t get penalised," argued manager Dennis Wise, who is set to appeal against Thompson’s subsequent suspension.
As the impressive John Viafara tried angrily to confront Eddie Lewis following a tackle, Thompson grabbed the aggrieved Saints player quite aggressively around the throat, with the intention of holding him back. By the letter of the law it was a sending-off and, after consulting his linesman, the referee produced the red card. Wise alleged that defender Chris Baird had thrown a punch at Thompson; Saints manager George Burley was nonplussed about the situation. "If he had, then I am sure the linesman standing five yards away would have seen it and (Baird) would have gone."
Reduced to 10 men, Leeds worked hard and defended resolutely, if not desperately at times, in the second half but, with six minutes remaining, the Saints finally capitalised on their extra man advantage, Wright-Phillips hooking a volley into the net, albeit fortuitously aided by the crossbar, past the otherwise excellent goalkeeper Casper Ankergren.
One goal was always going to be enough. Until then, more than 3,000 Leeds fans who had made the journey from Yorkshire had been excellent, but a small minority almost spoiled the afternoon by hurling objects at the Southampton fans. Neither manager saw it or wished to comment.

BBC 21/4/07
Southampton 1-0 Leeds
Bradley Wright-Phillips struck late on to keep Southampton's play-off hopes alive and leave Leeds deep in trouble.
Leeds' Alan Thompson saw red after 32 minutes after a clash with John Viafara, which saw angry players being kept apart by referee Tony Bates.
Wright-Phillips broke the deadlock with six minutes left, hooking home a cross from fellow substitute Djamel Belmadi.
Grzegorz Rasiak had the ball in the net after Wright-Phillips' strike, but it was ruled out for offside.
Southampton manager George Burley:"We knew Leeds would be fighting for their lives and all credit to them, they made it difficult for us to break them down.
"But we kept at them, we put Bradley on the wing to give us some more finishing power and it paid off.
"I think we deserved it."
Leeds boss Dennis Wise on Thompson's sending off"The linesman made the decision but he was 40 yards away.
"Thompson pulled Viafara away from Eddie Lewis because they were going to clash, and the officials misunderstood.
"I'm always talking about the refs, but they should be penalised."

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