Leeds United 1-1 Southampton: Whites held by stunning James Ward-Prowse free-kick - YEP 2/4/22
Leeds United were held to a 1-1 draw by Southampton at a sun-soaked Elland Road on Saturday afternoon.
By Flora Snelson
Jack Harrison gave a deserved lead with a scrappy
close-range goal as, boosted by the return of several key players, the Whites
put in a dominant first-half display.
Southampton bit back, though, through a delicious free-kick
by set piece magician James Ward-Prowse just after half-time.
Neither side could find a winner so the points were shared
at Elland Road. With relegation rivals Watford and Burnley both suffering 2-0
defeats, United inch a little closer to safety by pulling eight points clear of
the drop zone.
With Patrick Bamford sidelined for six weeks with a plantar
fascia rupture, Jesse Marsch opted to put winger Dan James up front as Raphinha
returned from a COVID infection to replace the Welshman on the flanks, while
Liam Cooper made his first start since December after recovering from a
hamstring injury.
As a makeshift attack, James and Rodrigo linked up well,
with the Spaniard seeking the stand-in number nine with long balls with varying
degrees of success.
Diego Llorente and Mohammed Salisu squandered chances for
the respective sides, the Leeds defender heading wide from a corner while the
latter failed to net with space inside the Whites' penalty area.
The home crowd cheered in the 21st minute after Jack
Harrison netted the ball from a scrappy corner, but referee Anthony Taylor
chalked the goal off for a push by Rodrigo in the build-up.
Harrison gave the Whites the lead just before the half hour
mark after Raphinha beat Kyle Walker-Peters and Oriol Romeu on the right wing.
Saints 'keeper Fraser Forster could only get a fingertip to the Brazilian's
cross and Harrison was there to poke it home.
Illan Meslier got down to make a fine save in the 35th
minute. After flooring Mateusz Klich with a clever turn, Che Adams found
himself with space right on the penalty spot, but the Whites' 'keeper stopped
his effort to send United into half time with a 1-0 lead.
Saints levelled the scores shortly after half-time after a
driving run by Walker-Peters drew a foul by Ayling on the edge of United's box.
Free-kick mastermind Ward-Prowse beat the wall and placed the ball into
Meslier's top corner.
Armando Broja almost gave the visitors the lead moments
later, beating United's defence to a Valentino Livramento cross and firing
wide.
With the introduction of Phillips and Gelhardt around the
hour mark, the Whites refound their rhythm and the visitors' pressure eased,
though United were unable to create an abundance of clear-cut chances. The home
crowd screamed for a penalty midway through the second half when Raphinha was
scythed down in the box by Diallo but Taylor said play on.
Taylor gave the Elland Road faithful more to complain about
in the game's dying minutes, giving nothing as Diallo brought down Gelhardt as
the teenager was attacking the area.
