AFP
Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl branded his side's second-half performance a disaster as Leeds ran riot thanks to goals from Patrick Bamford, Stuart Dallas and Raphinha for a 3-0 win on Tuesday that took them into the top half of the Premier League.
After topping the table earlier in the season, Saints are not yet safe as they have taken just one point from their last eight league games.
Hasenhuttl took the bold decision to leave top scorer Danny Ings and on-loan Liverpool midfielder Takumi Minamino on the bench with the Austrian wary of further injuries affecting his depleted squad.
The visitors could still have gone in front before half-time as Nathan Tella saw a penalty overturned after a VAR review, while Che Adams had a goal ruled out.
With both sides throwing men forward at every opportunity, goals seemed certain to come and Bamford continued his excellent season with a calm finish from Tyler Roberts' pass two minutes into the second period for his 13th goal of the season.
"When the games are so close, the team that scores first gets the advantage," said Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa.
In previous seasons, Bielsa's men have run out of steam in the second half of the campaign.
