Football: Wallace returns to haunt Saints

Southampton 0

Leeds United 2

George Graham watched his Leeds side play a game of Jekyll and Hyde before they took control in the second half and condemned Southampton to their sixth defeat in eight Premiership games.

Graham was encouraged that his side won despite hardly competing in the first half, but acknowledged that his team will need more commitment for a full 90 minutes to reach their potential. "I thought we were poor in the first half, a bit sloppy," he said. "But in the second we tightened up and looked very good on the break."

David Jones, his counterpart at Southampton, saw his Premiership managerial nightmare continue, and was less than happy about the performance of his defence. "I definitely feel I I've been mugged today," he said. "We had all the play and all the pressure and then went to sleep at the back. It's down to bad defending.''

Southampton were unable to give Tuesday's pounds 1m signing, midfielder Carlton Palmer, a debut against his old club because he missed the transfer deadline. They were also without Matt Le Tissier, missing with a hamstring injured sustained against Liverpool last Saturday, and Norwegian striker Egil Ostenstad, who has an ankle sprain. Deputising up front was Kevin Davies, the promising 20-year-old striker, who had Southampton's best chances.

In the fifth minute, he chipped on to the post from the edge of the box, and a minute later drove just wide from 30 yards. Leeds took the lead completely against the run of play after 36 minutes through Robert Molenaar, who ran unmarked on to a Gary Kelly cross and headed powerfully past Saints' goalkeeper, Paul Jones.

Spurred by the goal, Leeds' play became livelier in the second half and they could have gone two ahead three minutes after the restart had Harry Kewell taken more time with his shot after receiving a Rod Wallace pass. It was Wallace himself who increased the lead against his old club eight minutes later when he headed in a cross from Bruno Ribeiro. Southampton rallied, but to no avail, with two late Davies chances coming to nothing.

Southampton (4-4-2): Jones; Dodd, Benali, Richardson, Monkou (Maddison, 28); Lundekvam, Williams, Oakley (Bowen, 60), Evans; Davies, Neilson. Substitutes not used: Johansen, Todd, Taylor (gk).

Leeds United (4-5-1): Martyn; Kelly, Robertson, Haland, Molenaar; Wetherall, Wallace, Hopkin (Bowyer 71), Ribeiro, Kewell; Halle. Substitutes not used: Hasselbaink, Lilley, Harte, Beeney (gk).

Referee: S Lodge (Barnsley).