Leeds, Southampton still without win

Leeds 0 Southampton 0

Leeds and Southampton are still searching for their first wins of this new Barclaycard Premiership season after a night of frustration at Elland Road.

Two home draws have now sandwiched a defeat at Tottenham for Leeds, who failed to scored for the first time in 11 games under boss Peter Reid, while Southampton have taken a point from each of their opening three matches.

For both sides their points haul, even at this early stage of the season, will be of concern as neither has yet played the main title contenders in Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.

But following Saturday’s poor performance in the 2-1 defeat at White Hart Lane, Leeds produced a first half in total contrast, albeit one which lacked the goal they deserved.

They did have the ball in the net just two minutes into the game, with Lamine Sakho heading home a Gary Kelly free-kick from inside the six-yard box.

But Sakho’s celebrations in scoring his first goal for Leeds following his recent season-long loan move from Marseille were cut short by a linesman’s flag.

With Sakho on the left wing, and in particular with Jermaine Pennant on the right, Leeds had the width they have long craved as Southampton had a thorn in both sides.

Pennant, on loan for three months from Arsenal and given his first start following his appearance as a sub at Spurs, frightened the life out of Gordon Strachan’s side in May when he scored a hat-trick for the Gunners in a 6-1 Highbury romp.

The 20-year-old may not have found the net on this occasion, but he often tormented one of Saints’ summer signings in left-back Graeme Le Saux.

The England Under-21 international took time to come into his own, but in the 26th minute eased past Le Saux and curled in a deep cross to the far post which Mark Viduka could only head into the ground.

Sakho and Pennant then combined two minutes later, with the Frenchman delivering a low cross-field ball which just evaded an intercepting lunge from Le Saux.

It allowed Pennant a run on goal which culminated in a fierce 18-yard drive which keeper Paul Jones superbly parried before his defence cleared the danger.

Pennant showed he was winning his battle with Le Saux as the former England defender was the first name in referee Paul Durkin’s notebook for bringing down his opponent.

That was before Jones then twice came to Southampton’s rescue, firstly clutching a stinging Johnson drive out of the air from 25 yards and then just tipping away a mis-hit cross from the recalled Ian Harte which threatened to dip under the bar.

A thunderous drive from Smith soon after whistled past the post as Leeds were now in full stride, before Paul Robinson was finally called into action in the 41st minute, touching over the bar a rising drive from Jason Dodd.

But for a glancing header from Paul Telfer, an early substitute for the injured Rory Delap, Southampton mustered little other than numerous corners which Leeds struggled to defend.

The strike partnership of Kevin Phillips, once signed by Reid from Watford when he was Sunderland boss, and James Beattie was left totally subdued by a reshuffled Leeds rearguard.

With Lucas Radebe unable to play two games in three days due to his ongoing knee problems, skipper Dominic Matteo was moved across to the centre from the left, so allowing Harte a return, although he again disappointed.

Mercifully for Leeds and Reid, the form of Matteo and another summer loan signing in Zoumana Camara ensured Phillips and Beattie were not given a sniff of goal.

The same could also be said for Leeds’ Viduka as he suffered another off night - and this time not for the want of an eager midfield willing to supply the service.

In the second half Leeds still played at a high tempo, and although their chances were fewer and far between, they still created the best of the night in the 73rd minute.

After Camara had blocked a Matt Oakley drive, Pennant picked up the loose ball and surged down the right wing before delivering another deep, curling cross to the far post.

Unfortunately, it was poorly headed back by the arriving Sakho, although Smith almost retrieved the situation as he hooked the ball from behind him and was inches away from scoring his third goal in three games.

Southampton could have stolen it at the death for in injury-time late subs Neil McCann and Brett Ormerod combined, only for Robinson to stand firm in beating away the latter’s drive.