Premier League
| Southampton 3 | |
|---|---|
| Leeds United 0 |
- guardian.co.uk, Saturday January 30 1999 19.16 GMT
So much for the form book. Beleaguered Southampton versus buoyant Leeds, it could only mean one thing. But David Jones's strugglers strolled to their most convincing win of the season.
Following two weeks of soul-searching in the aftermath of a debilitating 7-1 humiliation at Anfield, and with adversity increasing quicker than you could say Nationwide League, it was a sign of the gutsiness at The Dell that they dug in, kept their heads up, grafted, and dominated for long periods of the game.
As those of a religious disposition might say, out of adversity comes strength. Southampton's pear-shaped season looked like it was turning mouldier by the second when, with barely 10 minutes gone, Matthew Le Tissier pulled up sharply.
It was just the type of injury that befalls a player who is not match sharp - this was the former England midfielder's first start in six games. Head bowed, shoulders hunched, cursing, the man known in these parts as Le God slunk off. It was a sorry sight for the Saints, their saviour's frailty exposed just when they needed him.
But they would not be downcast. Colleter's swirling left-foot drive from 20 yards tested Martyn. Then Oakley pounced on Beattie's lay-off and rifled the ball marginally wide of the upright.
Bang on the half-hour Southampton reaped reward for their pressure with a combination of Welsh welly, captain's determination and Moroccan spice. Hughes's shot was charged down, Dodd took aim from the rebound, and Kachloul, lurking on the edge of the six-yard box, helped it past Martyn with a spontaneous backheel. It was the African's fourth goal since signing up for Southampton's survival bid.
In the second half the Premiership's penultimate side continued carrying the game to their high-flying visitors, and just after the hour they doubled their lead after a pinball move involving input from almost half the team.
Colleter's free-kick bounced off the wall and fell to Hiley, who crossed to the unpredictable Kachloul. The Moroccan danced towards goal and drove in - the crowd oohed as Martyn blocked, they aahed as Beattie rushed in to tap the rebound against a post, and finally they cheered as Oakley stabbed the ball home.
Leeds, in such devastating, liberating, free-scoring form of late, and with five goals on the South Coast fresh in the memory, were a relative disappointment.
David O'Leary's 'babies' were for once toothless, and the chance to move within four points of the league leaders was spurned.
Still, they had chances. Hasselbaink blazed a volley wastefully wide, and goalkeeper Jones dealt comfortably with efforts from Kewell, Bowyer, Hopkin and Smith. Kewell tried to lift Leeds single-handedly with a splendid solo dribble and shot, but Jones was equal to it once more.
Just as the cynics and the worriers were starting to wait for the home advantage to be eaten away, a wave of euphoria swept round the Dell as Ostenstad rolled in a third goal after some impressive approach work from Beattie.
