Raphinha outstanding as Leeds United comfortably win 'football on steroids'

Southampton's Ralph Hasenhuttl boomed orders and encouragement throughout and with 10 minutes to go his opposite number Marcelo Bielsa went absolutely berserk with Ezgjan Alioski after the Leeds United substitute surrendered possession on the touchline deep in Saints' half. “Ali! Ali!” he screamed, also venturing far into Southampton (coaching) territory to vent his anger.

Anyone worried about the Argentinian staying into next season could breathe easily at this point. Bielsa is fanatically committed to the cause.

As far as he is concerned, the only question mark is whether results head in a direction that puts doubts in the mind of the Leeds board. There was reassurance on that too, with three precise left-footed finishes earning his side a 3-0 win, putting harsh back-to-back defeats to bed and moving the Whites back into the top half of the table. They look like a top-half team, which for any team in their first season in the Premier League is a big compliment.

Raphinha scored the third in an absolutely outstanding display. With all the chances he created, Leeds ought to have won by even more.

Both these sides are very intense in their football but the way an out-of-form Southampton started seemed to catch Leeds a bit on the hop. They held out, though, and came on strong after the interval.

Technology played its part on a night when Leeds had 11 virtual mascots, brought onto the pitch by home players carrying tablets donated to Beeston Primary School by their striker Patrick Bamford. It came to Leeds's rescue when Andre Marriner pointed to the spot after 35 minutes.

The players of both sides were struggling with their footing on the second unreliable Elland Road pitch this season, but the home side were also giving the ball away too easily. Even Raphinha did, to gift possession to James Ward-Prowse, who found Nathan Tella.

The winger on his first Premier League start went down under a challenge from Diego Llorente, only making his second thanks to fitness, rather than youth – or so it appeared to the naked eye. The replays showed Tella had cheated to win the spot kick, searching for contact and tumbling to the turf.

Marriner was called over to the pitchside monitor and took a few looks before giving what, on the screen, looked a straight-forward decision. Surprisingly, disappointingly, incorrectly, he did not book Tella for his dive.

Leeds might have thought they were due a penalty five minutes later when Raphinha went down in the opposite area but tellingly the winger did not appeal for one, knowing he had been on the receiving end of a brilliant tackle by Oriol Romeu, chasing back as Stuart Dallas's pass sprang the counter-attack.

Raphinha's switch from left to right wing had helped Leeds to settle down after a difficult opening period when the Saints were much the better side, pressing ferociously urged on by Hasenhuttl without making it count.

Jannik Vestergaard had an excellent chance after six minutes, getting in front of Pascal Struik, playing in the defensive unit of a 3-3-1-3 formation, but put it wide. Tella shot straight at Illan Meslier and Leeds had a let-off when Llorente gave the ball straight to Romeu, only for the midfielder to become the latest player to slip on the treacherous turf.

Leeds first chance of note should have come after 25 minutes but Bamford's pass to Tyler Roberts was overhit. Minutes later they worked a good free-kick, Raphinha picking out Llorente, who headed across only for Liam Cooper to volley over.

Meslier started the half with by saving from Nathan Redmond and a minute later Leeds took the lea with a typical move, using the spaces the stretched-out game opened up. Llorente clipped the ball to Roberts, who played a wonderful pass given a cool finish by Bamford.

It heralded an even more intense period of football, Meslier making a terrific low save from Stuart Armstrong.

Twice Raphinha took difficult passes brilliantly, got to the byline and pulled the ball back for what ought to have been goals. Roberts and substitute Helder Costa both shot over from the edge of the area, the latter under more pressure.

Dallas showed great patience to pick out Bamford whose shot, like Roberts' follow-up, was saved. He denied Llorente with a reflex left-footed save from another Raphinha pull-back.

You worried Southampton might be let off the hook, especially when Bamford cleared a Vestergaard header from right in front of his goalkeeper, but Dallas saw to that, picking out Costa then finding the net with the outside of his left boot from the return.

Raphinha rounded it off with a brilliant free-kick curled around the wall when Costa was clipped from behind.

On nights like this Bielsaball is so beautiful to watch. Why would anyone in their right mind want it to come to an end?

Leeds United: Meslier; Llorente, Cooper, Struijk; Ayling, Klich (Alioski 59), Dallas; Roberts (Hernandez 75); Harrison (Costa 46), Bamford, Raphinha.

Unused substitutes: Casilla, Gelhardt, Cresswell, Jenkins, Casey, Huggins.

Southampton: McCarthy; Bednarek, Vestergaard, Salisu, Bertrand; Armstrong, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Tella (Minamino 58); Adams, Redmond (Ings 58).

Unused substitutes: Stephens, Djenepo, Ramsay, N'Lundulu, Forster, Jankewitz, Chauke.

Referee: A Marriner (West Midlands).

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today. Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you'll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers. Click HERE to subscribe.