LEEDS UTD 3 SOUTHAMPTON 0
SORRY SAINTS ACCUSED OF ‘GIVING UP’ AS BAMFORD STRIKE SPARKS AN EMPHATIC VICTORY FOR BIELSA’S ENTERTAINERS
PATRICK BAMFORD gave 20 tablets to help school kids work from home – then helped Leeds give Southampton a lesson.
Bamford walked out holding one of the iPads he purchased for Beeston Primary School to show 11 pupils who were virtual mascots for last night’s game.
The Leeds striker then led the way as his side schooled Southampton to register their 200th Premier League victory.
He opened the scoring before Stuart Dallas, right, scored with the outside of his left foot and Raphinha ended the lesson with a superb 25-yard free-kick.
Tyler Roberts missed two fine chances, while Saints keeper Alex McCarthy was inspired.
This was Southampton’s seventh defeat in eight Premier League games. Referee Andre Marriner overturned his award of a penalty to them with the help of VAR and then he disallowed an effort when they took a free-kick before he blew his whistle.
Raphinha teed up Roberts, who fired over early on, before McCarthy touched over a Liam Cooper effort.
Marriner pointed to the spot when Nathan Tella went down under Diego Llorente’s challenge but VAR Kevin Friend asked him to review his decision, which was changed. Then Marriner disallowed Che Adams’ effort, much to the Saints players’ fury. Leeds opened the scoring two minutes after the restart when Bamford let Roberts’ pass run through his legs before slotting home left-footed. Southampton wilted and McCarthy had to save from Bamford, Roberts and Llorente. Manager Ralph Hasenhuttl accused his players of giving up, saying: “They had more energy in the second half.
“We gave up in the second half. We were nasty in the first but were nice opponents in the second.” Leeds added a deserved second when Helder Costa found Dallas, who netted from 25 yards. Dallas pulled up his shirt to show a tribute to Kalvin Phillips’ gran, Val, who died a few days ago, and Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa said: “When we got promoted, Kalvin’s granny became known and we all came to care for her.
“She was a charismatic and attractive person. We regret deeply she is no longer with us.”
Raphinha bagged the goal he deserved six minutes from time with a 25-yard free-kick and pulled up his shirt to show a tribute to Ronaldinho’s mother, Dona Miguelina Eloi Assis dos Santos, who died aged 71 at the weekend from coronavirus. LEEDS (3-4-3): Meslier 6; Llorente 7, Struijk 6, Cooper 6; Ayling 6, Roberts 6 (Hernandez 74), Klich 6 (Alioski 59, 6), Dallas 7; Raphinha 8, Bamford 8, Harrison 6 (Helder Costa 46, 7). Goals: Bamford 47, Dallas 78, Raphinha 84.
SOUTHAMPTON (4-4-2): McCarthy 7; Bednarek 6, Vestergaard 6, Salisu 5, Bertrand 6; Tella 7 (Minamino 58, 5), Ward-Prowse 6, Romeu 7 (Djenepo 65, 5), Armstrong 5; Adams 6, Redmond 5 (Ings 58, 5).