Leeds United 0 - Southampton 0:Mark Viduka's every move was supposed to be under scrutiny from Italian scouts last night but, given the sporadic nature of the Leeds striker's involvement, their attention might just have wandered towards a couple of unlikely targets.
Do not be surprised if Inter Milan receive glowing reports about Seth Johnson, arguably man of the match in the home central midfield, or Jermaine Pennant, a winger who reminded Graeme Le Saux why his England days are behind him. Southampton's Gordon Strachan would have been the happier manager at the end of a game Leeds should have won - and perhaps would have if Viduka had been more energetic.
Leeds had the ball in the net in the second minute but Lamine Sakho's header from Gary Kelly's free-kick was disallowed for offside. Deployed on the left-wing, Sakho is here on a year-long loan from Marseille and seems poised to be joined by another team-mate from the Stade Velodrome today. Salomon Olembe, a left-sided Cameroon international midfielder, has a medical this morning for a year loan.
Viduka must have cursed himself for directing a far-post header fractionally wide after meeting an excellent cross from Jermaine Pennant. Pennant might have scored himself but for a fine save by Paul Jones. Johnson's 25-yarder stung Jones's fingers and Jason Dodd let fly from 35 yards at the other end, only to see Paul Robinson parry his shot. Southampton - forced to replace the injured Rory Delap with Paul Telfer after eight minutes - were restricted to trying to menace from dead balls and Kevin Phillips had to forage ever deeper for possession.
In the second half Viduka began by supplying Alan Smith with a couple of superior passes. Smith failed to make the most of those chances while Oakley nearly scored for Southampton with a volley.
Pennant's wing play was one of the brightest things about Leeds and both Sakho and Smith should have scored from his crosses. Pennant was substituted to rapturous applause in the final minute - but by then the edge had been taken off the crowd's frustration by a couple of Batty backheels.
Guardian Service
LEEDS: Robinson, Kelly, Camara, Matteo, Harte (Richardson 82), Pennant (Wilcox 90), Morris (Batty 67), Seth Johnson, Sakho, Smith, Viduka. Subs Not Used: Martyn, Lennon. Booked: Matteo, Sakho.
SOUTHAMPTON: Jones, Dodd, Lundekvam, Michael Svensson, Le Saux, Fernandes, Delap (Telfer 9), Oakley, Prutton (McCann 78), Phillips (Ormerod 85), Beattie. Subs Not Used: Blayney, Higginbotham. Booked: Le Saux, Oakley, Fernandes.
Referee: P Durkin (Dorset).
