Leeds United 3 Southampton 0: Whites bounce back to storm above Arsenal into Premier League's top half

Southampton saw a penalty decision overturned and a goal from a free-kick chalked off due to referee Andre Marriner having not blown his whistle but second half strikes from Bamford, Dallas and Raphinha sent Leeds tenth.

Southampton began brightly and Jannik Vestergaard put a free header wide before Nathan Tella burst through United's centre but his low shot was saved by Illan Meslier.

Leeds could not get going but a fine run from Raphinha set up an opening for Tyler Roberts who could only blaze his shot over the bar.

From a Raphinha free-kick, Diego Llorente's header then set up Liam Cooper whose flicked attempt at goal was tipped over the bar by 'keeper Alex McCarthy.

Southampton were then awarded a penalty after Tella skipped past Llorente and went to ground but VAR instructed referee Marriner to check the incident on his monitor and the decision was overturned.

A brilliant pass from Dallas from a Saints free-kick then sent Raphinha clear but the Brazilian was thwarted by a fantastic sliding tackle from Oriol Romeu.

Southampton then had the ball in the net as Che Adams netted from a quickly taken James Ward-Prowse free-kick but Marriner insisted the set piece had been taken before he had blown his whistle.

Whites head coach Marcelo Bielsa swapped Jack Harrison for Helder Costa during the interval and Southampton had a chance two minutes after the restart but Nathan Redmond fired straight at Illan Meslier from an Adams pull back.

And seconds later Leeds were ahead as a fantastic through ball from Roberts sent Bamford clear and the Whites striker produced a fine finish into the far right corner.

Southampton produced a strong response and Meslier produced a fine save to deny Stuart Armstrong.

But Roberts fired wide on the counter and a firm shot from Bamford from another decent move was saved by McCarthy and the follow up attempt from Roberts was also saved.

United then lost Mateusz Klich to injury meaning Gjanni Alioski came on and Alioski was immediately involved in a lovely move that led to Llorente being denied by McCarthy from a Raphinha cross.

At the other end, Bamford cleared a Vestergaard header off the line and Mohammed Salisu then powered an effort over the bar.

From range, Ward-Prose's shot was saved before Adams fired over but United doubled their lead in the 78th minute through a lovely finish from Dallas from the edge of the box.

And Leeds then bagged a third in the 84th minute as a trip on Costa earned United a free-kick that Raphinha sent into the bottom left corner from 25 yards out.

Costa and fellow substitute Hernandez then hammered efforts over the bar but Leeds were home and hosed and now sit on 35 points - a point and a place above 11th-placed Arsenal.

Leeds United: Meslier, Llorente, Cooper, Struijk, Ayling, Klich (Alioski 59), Dallas, Raphinha, Harrison (Costa 46), Roberts (Hernandez 74), Bamford. Subs not used: Casilla, Cresswell, Casey, Jenkins, Huggins, Gelhardt.

Southampton: McCarthy, Bednarek, Salisu, Vestergaard, Bertrand, Romeu (Djenepo 70), Ward-Prowse, Armstrong, Tella (Minamino 58), Redmond (Ings 58), Adams. Subs not used: Forster, Ramsay, Stephens, Jankewitz, Chauke, Nlundulu.

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