Just the Job, Rob: United 2 Saints 1
leedsunited.com
Pre Match
United boss Kevin Blackwell was able to stick with the same side that beat Burnley at the weekend after Rob Hulse and Shaun Derry were passed fit.
Hulse had been troubled by an ankle injury whilst Derry needed the green light from the club doctor after needing stitches above his eye following an altercation at Turf Moor.
David Healy was again on the bench, and possibly not over his own ankle ligament problems.
Southampton made three changes with Harry Redknapp going for youth and pace in abundance upfront. One time Elland Road loan signing Brett Ormerod was dropped to the bench whilst 16-year-old Theo Walcott, normally a winger, took his place.
Scottish winger Neil McCann, making his first start since January was also in or Kamil Kosowski on the left wing, and he too offers the Saints plenty of pace.
Martin Cranie at right back for Michael Svensson was the other change.
Saints went into the game having drawn their previous eight, a club record, and one more would be a new league record.
The Match
Leeds nearly opened the scoring inside the first minute when Frazer Richardson's cross into the middle was missed by Martin Cranie inside the six-yard box and fell for Hulse. It was an unexpected early chance but the striker still managed to get a get a strong header on the ball as it bounced up and Antti Niemi pulled off a great instinctive save, tipping the ball over his own crossbar to deny the blond striker his eighth goal of the season.
Southampton though created their own clear cut chance with barely five minutes on the clock as Walcott exposed United's lack of pace at the back. Unmarked, a neat flick sent him on his way and he had just Sullivan to beat, but the Whites No.1 resisted the temptation to go down early and in the end Walcott curled his shot straight at him.
The 16-year-old was causing no end of problems for the United defence as he cut in and out and only a terrific tackle by Butler to concede a corner prevented him from causing any early damage.
Eleven minutes into the game though and Leeds dealt the Saints an early blow as the Incredible Hulse's goal-den streak continued with the striker putting Leeds 1-0 up.
Gary Kelly swung in a free-kick and Hulse jumped for it, and almost as if in slow motion, met it with a firm header from the penalty spot that sailed high over Niemi and dropped inside the goal. It was a fantastic header and one that meant he didn't have long to wait for that eighth goal.
Goal number seven for Hulse was of course three days earlier at Burnley, and United's other goalscorer on the day, Eddie Lewis, nearly scored with another free-kick. At Turf Moor he just curled it to the left hand side of the goalkeeper and this time he went the other way but luck was against him as the ball came back off the left hand upright.
Make no mistake though, Leeds were dominant and it was no surprise when they went 2-0 up before 20 minutes had passed.
It was a neat lay off from Hulse on the edge of the area that teed Robbie Blake up and the striker hit it sweetly with a right footed curling drive again over the top of Niemi and the back of the net bulged for Leeds again.
Southampton's marking had been wayward again but take nothing away from Blake, it was a world class strike.
To the Saints credit, they kept plugging away despite the double setback and were rewarded with a goal on 25 minutes.
It came from a long ball played over the top, Butler got his head to it but couldn't do enough to stop the ball from landing for Walcott. Having missed before when clean through, the youngster nearly missed his chance again when Sullivan made the save, but the ball went loose and bounced backwards towards the goal and Sullivan wasn't able to get back in time to stop it creeping over the line.
Derry was then booked for a foul on Neil McCann which earned him a one match suspension for picking up five yellow cards this season. He now misses the Carling Cup game against Blackburn.
Saints were given a new lease of life by the goal and came close to an equaliser with a couple of chances just minutes after their reply.
Nigel Quashie came close with a low drive that Sullivan got down well to, then Walcott was through again but hit a powerful shot a couple of inches over the bar, again he was clean through on goal as he left the defence for dead.
Jonathan Douglas quickly became the second man to go into referee Jones' notebook when he was booked for arguing after the Walcott shot.
Leeds best chance to restore their two goal lead came from another free-kick five minutes before the break. Kelly's ball in fell for Blake, his shot was blocked but it fell for Butler with a clear sight of goal and his shot went high and over from ten yards out.
Lewis also came close when he was sent clear by Hulse's flick, he struck it well but Matt Oakley managed to get in the way and the deflection took it just over the bar. The USA winger was again agonisingly close to his third goal of the season.
At half-time, Leeds still had plenty to do to win this game.
No changes at half-time, Southampton created the first chance of the second half in this all so open game. Another long ball was launched forward for Walcott to chase and the striker took the ball past Gregan before hitting it from 20-yards. It only just missed the target.
Eddie Lewis set up a great chance for United when he was fouled two yard short of the penalty area to earn a free-kick. Lewis could have taken it himself but he left it for Blake and the striker hit the ball perfectly but it smashed against the woodwork and went straight out.
Still concerned by Walcott's pace, Blackwell made a change ten minutes into the half when he brought Matthew Kilgallon on and took Sean Gregan off. Gregan had played every minute of every game before his substitution, the only ever-present in the side.
Just after the hour Sean Derry came close to a third goal for Leeds when he met Lewis's corner with a firm header but Niemi pulled off a fantastic save, turning over his bar.
David Healy came on for Robbie Blake on 64 minutes to see if he could inspire Leeds again, just as he had at Burnley.
Southampton made a change with quarter of an hour to go and it nearly paid off straight away for them when Kenwyne Jones, the man who came on, broke clear and tried to beat Sullivan from the right of the area. Sullivan again came to United's rescue as he got his right hand down to block the ball but the danger wasn't over as it fell to Walcott, but he again wasted the chance by missing the target. Gylfi Einarsson was United's final change of the evening as he replaced Frazer Richardson in a move that saw Leeds revert to playing just one upfront with Healy moving to the right wing. Derry played just in front of the back four to offer them more protection.Leeds will hope they won't have to work so hard for future wins, and let's not forget they hit the woodwork twice but they found a side in Southampton that could be genuine promotion contenders themselves - if they can get a striker. Fortunately Leeds have no problem in that department.
leedsunited.com
Pre Match
United boss Kevin Blackwell was able to stick with the same side that beat Burnley at the weekend after Rob Hulse and Shaun Derry were passed fit.
Hulse had been troubled by an ankle injury whilst Derry needed the green light from the club doctor after needing stitches above his eye following an altercation at Turf Moor.
David Healy was again on the bench, and possibly not over his own ankle ligament problems.
Southampton made three changes with Harry Redknapp going for youth and pace in abundance upfront. One time Elland Road loan signing Brett Ormerod was dropped to the bench whilst 16-year-old Theo Walcott, normally a winger, took his place.
Scottish winger Neil McCann, making his first start since January was also in or Kamil Kosowski on the left wing, and he too offers the Saints plenty of pace.
Martin Cranie at right back for Michael Svensson was the other change.
Saints went into the game having drawn their previous eight, a club record, and one more would be a new league record.
The Match
Leeds nearly opened the scoring inside the first minute when Frazer Richardson's cross into the middle was missed by Martin Cranie inside the six-yard box and fell for Hulse. It was an unexpected early chance but the striker still managed to get a get a strong header on the ball as it bounced up and Antti Niemi pulled off a great instinctive save, tipping the ball over his own crossbar to deny the blond striker his eighth goal of the season.
Southampton though created their own clear cut chance with barely five minutes on the clock as Walcott exposed United's lack of pace at the back. Unmarked, a neat flick sent him on his way and he had just Sullivan to beat, but the Whites No.1 resisted the temptation to go down early and in the end Walcott curled his shot straight at him.
The 16-year-old was causing no end of problems for the United defence as he cut in and out and only a terrific tackle by Butler to concede a corner prevented him from causing any early damage.
Eleven minutes into the game though and Leeds dealt the Saints an early blow as the Incredible Hulse's goal-den streak continued with the striker putting Leeds 1-0 up.
Gary Kelly swung in a free-kick and Hulse jumped for it, and almost as if in slow motion, met it with a firm header from the penalty spot that sailed high over Niemi and dropped inside the goal. It was a fantastic header and one that meant he didn't have long to wait for that eighth goal.
Goal number seven for Hulse was of course three days earlier at Burnley, and United's other goalscorer on the day, Eddie Lewis, nearly scored with another free-kick. At Turf Moor he just curled it to the left hand side of the goalkeeper and this time he went the other way but luck was against him as the ball came back off the left hand upright.
Make no mistake though, Leeds were dominant and it was no surprise when they went 2-0 up before 20 minutes had passed.
It was a neat lay off from Hulse on the edge of the area that teed Robbie Blake up and the striker hit it sweetly with a right footed curling drive again over the top of Niemi and the back of the net bulged for Leeds again.
Southampton's marking had been wayward again but take nothing away from Blake, it was a world class strike.
To the Saints credit, they kept plugging away despite the double setback and were rewarded with a goal on 25 minutes.
It came from a long ball played over the top, Butler got his head to it but couldn't do enough to stop the ball from landing for Walcott. Having missed before when clean through, the youngster nearly missed his chance again when Sullivan made the save, but the ball went loose and bounced backwards towards the goal and Sullivan wasn't able to get back in time to stop it creeping over the line.
Derry was then booked for a foul on Neil McCann which earned him a one match suspension for picking up five yellow cards this season. He now misses the Carling Cup game against Blackburn.
Saints were given a new lease of life by the goal and came close to an equaliser with a couple of chances just minutes after their reply.
Nigel Quashie came close with a low drive that Sullivan got down well to, then Walcott was through again but hit a powerful shot a couple of inches over the bar, again he was clean through on goal as he left the defence for dead.
Jonathan Douglas quickly became the second man to go into referee Jones' notebook when he was booked for arguing after the Walcott shot.
Leeds best chance to restore their two goal lead came from another free-kick five minutes before the break. Kelly's ball in fell for Blake, his shot was blocked but it fell for Butler with a clear sight of goal and his shot went high and over from ten yards out.
Lewis also came close when he was sent clear by Hulse's flick, he struck it well but Matt Oakley managed to get in the way and the deflection took it just over the bar. The USA winger was again agonisingly close to his third goal of the season.
At half-time, Leeds still had plenty to do to win this game.
No changes at half-time, Southampton created the first chance of the second half in this all so open game. Another long ball was launched forward for Walcott to chase and the striker took the ball past Gregan before hitting it from 20-yards. It only just missed the target.
Eddie Lewis set up a great chance for United when he was fouled two yard short of the penalty area to earn a free-kick. Lewis could have taken it himself but he left it for Blake and the striker hit the ball perfectly but it smashed against the woodwork and went straight out.
Still concerned by Walcott's pace, Blackwell made a change ten minutes into the half when he brought Matthew Kilgallon on and took Sean Gregan off. Gregan had played every minute of every game before his substitution, the only ever-present in the side.
Just after the hour Sean Derry came close to a third goal for Leeds when he met Lewis's corner with a firm header but Niemi pulled off a fantastic save, turning over his bar.
David Healy came on for Robbie Blake on 64 minutes to see if he could inspire Leeds again, just as he had at Burnley.
Southampton made a change with quarter of an hour to go and it nearly paid off straight away for them when Kenwyne Jones, the man who came on, broke clear and tried to beat Sullivan from the right of the area. Sullivan again came to United's rescue as he got his right hand down to block the ball but the danger wasn't over as it fell to Walcott, but he again wasted the chance by missing the target. Gylfi Einarsson was United's final change of the evening as he replaced Frazer Richardson in a move that saw Leeds revert to playing just one upfront with Healy moving to the right wing. Derry played just in front of the back four to offer them more protection.Leeds will hope they won't have to work so hard for future wins, and let's not forget they hit the woodwork twice but they found a side in Southampton that could be genuine promotion contenders themselves - if they can get a striker. Fortunately Leeds have no problem in that department.