Fragile Southampton could be in for trouble if Leeds United hit their stride - David Prutton

When you watch the game and go back and watch it again, it’s another contest in which Leeds can feel rightly aggrieved.

There have been times this season where the finger has been pointed at Whites goalkeeper Illan Meslier but his own goal from Adama Traore’s strike was so unfortunate.

It was ridiculous.

The game was ultimately decided on something such as that and Patrick Bamford has been very vocal about what he thought of the VAR decision which saw his strike ruled out for offside.

It must be so frustrating and you can also look at the Crystal Palace game and how close that was when Patrick’s goal was disallowed for offside.

Then, suddenly, Palace ran out 4-1 winners.

That put Leeds in a bit of a sticky situation that they had to come back from.

But it’s just part of the debate now.

I have sat and watched and worked on many games and I was at the Southampton against Wolves game last Sunday.

Southampton had a penalty given against Ryan Bertrand when the ball was absolutely smashed at him from five yards away.

But then, in the second half, the ball bounced up and hit a Wolves defender on the arm and it was waved away.

In your gut and in your head you are just thinking that doesn’t feel right - regardless of what the rules are and what the technology is. It doesn’t sit comfortably.

But it’s part of the game that affects and will be affecting everybody in this division for the rest of the season and as long as it is allowed to be part of the discussion.

Tomorrow night’s home clash against Southampton is next for Leeds and Southampton had lost six in a row before Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to Chelsea.

It was a record run of defeats that Ralph Hasenhuttl had managed to preside over.

Southampton played well in the first half against Wolves but they completely fell apart in the second half.

Decisions went against them in another game where we were left talking about decisions that felt a little bit harsh.

But Southampton have got some real quality with the likes of Stuart Armstrong and Danny Ings, and James Ward-Prowse is as good a set-piece taker as you would currently see in the Premier League at this moment in time so he is a threat.

But it’s Leeds at home to Southampton and, if they go about their game as we know that they can do, then they can make this a game to impress and enjoy and gain three points in.

At their best, Southampton can be tough but I still think they can be a little bit fragile if you can get about them and press on them what Leeds’ game is which should make for a tough game for Southampton.

Leeds have the joint-worst record in the division at defending set-pieces so they have got to be very careful with Ward-Prowse.

It’s almost getting to that David Beckham point where anything centrally around the box is a very workable chance on target that he is going to produce.

From his deliveries into the box, Southampton have also got some really big players such as Jannik Vestergaard and that is something to be mindful of.

We will have to wait and see if Kalvin Phillips is back from injury as that will be a very obvious boost for Leeds when he gets his boots on. But whilst it’s a massive cliche, they are all very, very winnable games.

There’s only really Manchester City that have cranked into life over the last two or three months and have been ruthlessly efficient at despatching sides.

But given Liverpool’s travails as well, I think that Leeds would have to absolutely fancy their chances against any other team in the Premier League.

There’s nothing for Leeds to compare themselves to that they fall massively short of or be frightened of.

They have attacked the league with fearlessness and more often than not it has paid off.

There is the odd game where they fall to a heavy defeat and they have let in a hell of a lot of goals.

But I think the general consensus is that people quite enjoy watching Leeds play.

There is always that opinion of people asking how come Leeds are getting all of this praise when they are always a couple of games away from getting a kick in the backside?

But it has brought a nice, different dynamic to the Premier League conversation in how you go about being a decent Premier League team.

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/dean-smith-provides-update-on-prospects-of-injured-jack-grealish-facing-leeds-united-after-leicester-city-defeat-3141820

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/yorkshire-evening-post-launch-leeds-united-only-digital-subscription-ahead-premier-league-campaign-2967964

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Thank you Laura Collins