Southampton endured yet another difficult evening on Tuesday, losing 3-0 at Elland Road against a Leeds United team who took full advantage of their second half collapse.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side had some reason for positivity heading into the game following a much-improved performance in their 1-1 draw at home to Chelsea at the weekend which ended a six-match losing run in the league. However, the Austrian made the decision to rest Danny Ings and Takumi Minamino and it ultimately proved a gamble which did not pay off despite them enjoying a decent first half.
The Saints were arguably the better team in the first 45 minutes and were on the end of a couple of frustrating refereeing decisions, with Nathan Tella thinking he had won a penalty, only for it to be overturned by VAR. Che Adams’ goal was then chalked off after the referee did not allow Southampton to take a free kick before he blew his whistle (BBC).
However, by Hasenhuttl’s own admission after the match, the Saints ‘gave up’ in the second period once the game had drifted away from them. That is a very worrying sign and it is now eight matches without a win in the league, with seven of those ending in defeat. There could now be pressure placed on the Austrian after such a performance and result.
It was a night that the Saints simply cannot afford to dwell on, as they are in desperate need of halting this awful run of form they are on at the moment.
Here is how we rated the Saints players in the defeat at Leeds…
