SOUTHAMPTON v LEEDS UNITED (11/08/1999)
SAINTS: Jones, Dodd, Benali, Richards, Lundekvam, Kachloul, LeTissier, Marsden, Hughes, Pahars, Ostenstad. Subs: Beresford, Ripley, Oakley, Almeida, Moss.
LEEDS: Martyn, Harte, Radebe, Woodgate, Hopkin, Duberry, Batty, Bowyer, Mills, Bridges, Kewell. Subs: Jones, Bakke, Haaland, Robinson, Hiden.
REFEREE: Alan Wiley
ATTENDANCE: 15,206
After the flying start to the season it was back to earth with a bump as Saints were humbled by an impressive Leeds side. It might all have been different if Mark Hughes' 'equaliser' had counted four minutes before half-time. The welsh warhorse lashed in a thumping volley with such force that the ball flew back out of the net.
New Premiership referee Alan Wiley did not notice the ball had gone in and it all happened so quickly that only Hughes appealed. Even so it is a fairly slender straw to clutch at since Leeds were better on the night, with new £4 million capture Michael Bridges hitting a hat-trick.
The first after just 10 minutes was a quality cushioned volley measured to perfection over Paul Jones after the Leeds striker had teed the ball up for himself, but he was given time and space to do it. Likewise he was all alone in front of goal to slot a simple second, six minutes after the break, although his sly clip of Dean Richards' ankles contributed to that.
And he was totally unmarked to head the third at the near post on 72 minutes to round off a comprehensive victory. It was ample revenge for Leeds and manager David O'Leary after a 3-0 thumping at the Dell last January.
That day, Saints got among them with ferocious determination to shut them down, but this time Leeds did exactly that in return.
Originally Printed in 'The Saints Mag' The Official Magazine of Southampton
Football Club, Issue 1 Volume 2
Date: September/October 1999