This was a significant match not in terms of the table, but in terms of being one of the first premier League games to have fans in. The Premier League moved this round of games to this midweek, so it gave the chance of home teams having fans in both of the last two rounds of this season in the final week of the season.
There were 8,000 Southampton fans in for this one.
It was 14th placed Southampton playing in red and white against 10th placed Leeds United playing in white.
Could Leeds finish their away campaign with their 10th away victory, or would Southampton end their home season with a win in front of their fans.
Keep reading to find out.
It was played at St Mary’s.
After 2 minutes, Southampton had the first chance from a free kick by Ward-Prowse which was headed away by Bamford. Then Armstrong did well down the left to beat Ayling before crossing invitingly into the box, Adams headed goalwards, but Casilla wonderfully tipped over the bar.
A minute later, Armstrong took the advice of the crowd who wanted him to shoot but he shot well over.
A couple of minutes later, Tella and Adams combined down the left and Tella’s attempted effort was blocked by Phillips.
After 10 minutes, another Southampton effort as Armstrong shot went high and wide.
After a quarter of an hour, the first Leeds foray forward as Harrison curled the ball across for Bamford but Vestergaard cleared. A minute later, Dallas’ corner was cleared by Armstrong ,Raphinha had the loose ball and fed Harrison down the right but he did crunching tackle on Djenepo.
And then Raphinha’s left footed shot was blocked.
A couple of minutes later, Tella played a super ball into Walcott on the right of the area, Casilla came out to make it difficult for him and Walcott did enough to get round him, but then he decided to cross into the middle, and then Cooper cleared.
After 19 minutes, Ayling’s left footed shot outside the box missed to the right. A minute later, Adams crossed straight into Casilla’s hands, then Armstrong tried his luck from outside the area but it flew well wide.
After 24 minutes, good buildup by Leeds as a crossfield pass went to Raphinha who passed to Dallas who chested it down and shot wide.
Just before the half hour mark, Llorente’s headed wide from a Leeds corner.
After 37 minutes, good play by Southampton, ended with Adams’ shot from outside the area, saved by Casilla for a corner, from the corner, Tella got under the ball and his shot went over the bar.
Two minutes later, Rodrigo unchallenged spun and shot but it went well over.
A minute later, Ward-Prowse’s right footed shot from outside the box was blocked.
Halftime score: Southampton 0-0 Leeds United
So a first half in which Southampton were definitely the better side whether the fans had an effect they probably did, but could Leeds improve in the 2nd half?
A couple of minutes into the 2nd half, Southampton won a freekick in what was called Ward-Prowse territory and he took it and it clipped the bar.
A couple of minutes later, Raphinha’s diagonal ball forward to Rodrigo who knocked it down for Dallas who volleyed towards goal with his first touch, and McCarthy tipped it round the post with his fingertips.
Two minutes later, Raphinha played the ball down the right for Bamford whose shot was saved by McCarthy, then Southampton tried to clear but the ball fell to Struijk who shot was well blocked.
After 55 minutes, Djenepo clipped the ball over Dallas who tripped him and it was a freekick just outside the area, Ward-Prowse tried to blast it in but the wall blocked it. Then at the other end, Leeds broke with lightning speed, Bamford drove into the area and was clipped by McCarthy and he then had an open goal at this mercy, but Vestergaard saw it behind. Had Bamford gone down it probably would have been a penalty.
With 25 minutes remaining, Ward-Prowse had a shot blocked by Ayling and Ayling was there again as Armstrong tried to get the ball through.
Two minutes later, Stephens picked Ings out at the top of the area, as Ings got past Ayling before shooting but the ball sailed well over. Then 2 Leeds chances as Raphinha beat Salisu easily and his cutback was scrambled out by McCarthy’s foot, Alioski was waiting bit he struck his effort straight at McCarthy.
1st Leeds goal
With 18 minutes remaining, Leeds went ahead as Rodrigo lofted the ball into Bamford in the area, the ball bounced twice and Bamford stabbed the ball home from close range for his 16th league goal this season.
Three minutes later, Salisu twisted and turned Leeds inside out and got a cross in but Ings headed wide.
Disallowed goal
After 84 minutes, Nice buildup by Leeds as Alioski passed to Roberts who laid off to Bamford who squared to Raphinha who finished calmly, but disallowed for offside.
With two minutes remaining, Redmond cut inside and went wide with his shot.
In the 1st minute of 2nd half stoppage time, Ings took a good 1st touch and shot but it went well wide.
2nd Leeds goal
After 90+5 minutes, Stephens had a close range header easily saved by Casilla at one end. At the other Leeds counter-attacked and Roberts led it but Bamford had the 1st shot which was powerful and parried by McCarthy , the ball came back out to Roberts who side-footed it home for his 1st Leeds goal.
The last action was another Raphinha effort from Bamford’s cross and shot was saved by McCarthy.
Fulltime score: Southampton 0-2 Leeds United
Leeds were much better in the 2nd half and got a hard-fought win for their 10th away win in the league this season.
They moved onto 56 points and 8th in the table, 1 place behind European football.
Highlights of this game at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvpGHCauGe4
Next for Leeds is their final game of the season, it’s at home against West Brom on Sunday May 233rd with a 4pm kickoff. Leeds will have 8,000 season ticket holders in, so that will be good for them to see Leeds in the flesh for the 1st and only time this season.
