Leeds 3 Southampton 0:SOUTHAMPTON WERE unable to find sanctuary from their Premier League woes in the League Cup last night, with manager Nigel Adkins' decision to make 11 changes backfiring on him as Leeds eliminated another top-flight side.
The Saints have found life tough since leaving the likes of Leeds behind in the Championship in the summer, accruing just four points from a possible 27.
But even the bounty of a possible quarter-final berth could not inspire them as goals from Michael Tonge and El-Hadji Diouf, as well as Luciano Becchio’s penalty, saw Leeds advance.
It is not unusual for managers to make changes in this competition – Leeds manager Neil Warnock made four himself – but in view of Southampton’s recent struggles, Adkins’ choice to rest the entire starting line-up from Sunday’s loss to Tottenham, as well as naming an inexperienced bench, looked somewhat strange.
The tinkering was reflected in Southampton’s performance too, with the Saints outplayed by their hosts.
It took until the 70th minute for them to register a shot at goal and it will be Leeds, third-round conquerors of Everton, who enter the hat tonight for a first quarter-final appearance since 1996 – a year they made the final.
Such an outcome had seemed likely from the moment the teams were named.
It took until the 15th minute for the home side to fashion a chance of note, though, and when they did, it resulted in what will surely be considered as one of the worst misses in recent memory.
Aidy White stood up a perfect back-post cross to Diouf and, when he sidefooted across the goalmouth with goalkeeper Kelvin Davis stranded, all Luke Varney had to do was score from a yard, but the former Portsmouth man inexplicably hit wide with Diouf unable to ram home the loose ball.
It was a miss which would often strangle the confidence of a player but it was Varney with a strong run down the left who created the opener. His cross was hacked away by Jos Hooiveld but Tonge was lurking and from 16 yards slammed a drive through a crowded box.
With three minutes left Leeds put the issue beyond doubt, Diouf firing home after Austin’s shot was parried by goalkeeper Davis.
There was still time for sub Becchio to score from the penalty spot with his first touch after Tonge was fouled by Dan Seaborne.
LEEDS UTD: Ashdown, Peltier (Pugh, 90), Pearce, Lees, Tonge, Byram, Brown, Austin, Varney (Becchio, 90), White, Diouf (Gray, 94). Subs not used: Kenny, Drury, Green, Norris.
SOUTHAMPTON: Davis, Reeves, Hooiveld, Butterfield, Seaborne, Chaplow, De Ridder (Isgrove, 67), Ward-Prowse, Guly, Mayuka, Lee (Shaw, 67). Subs not used: Gazzaniga, Stephens, Chambers, Hoskins, Sinclair. Booked: Seaborne, Reeves.
Referee: Chris Foy (St Helens).
