KEOWN: Southampton will target Leeds' failure to deal with long balls

MARTIN KEOWN TALKS TACTICS: Resurgent Southampton will target Leeds’ failure to deal with the long ball… they desperately need Javi Gracia to give them some direction

• Leeds face Southampton in a crunch clash at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon
• The hosts have turned to Javi Gracia after looking totally rudderless recently
• Teams have worked them out by going long to nullify their extremely high press

This is turning into one of the greatest relegation dogfights in the Premier League’s 30 years of existence. Only 10 points separate Aston Villa in 11th and Southampton in 20th.

If a side sitting rock bottom like the Saints can march into the home of megabucks Chelsea and win 1-0, no one can sleep easy thinking they’re safe.

Another win on Saturday would take Southampton out of the relegation zone for the first time since November.

Victory would do the same for Leeds, but they are winless in their last 10 and in big trouble.

They have now turned to Javi Gracia to give them direction and that’s desperately needed. Leeds have looked totally rudderless. For so long under Jesse Marsch, their primary way of playing has been to suffocate opponents with a high press and win possession in the final third. 

Southampton face Leeds in a crunch relegation battle at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon

Leeds have looked totally rudderless in recent weeks and are winless in their last 10 games

But the opposition have worked this out, learning not to attempt to pass out from the back against Leeds because you simply play in their hands.

By bypassing the press and sending the ball long, you can have success against Leeds. 

The statistics suggest almost every top-flight team has increased their percentage of long balls when facing them this season.

Everton were the latest to deploy this tactic. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford constantly looked long to deny Leeds any joy from their high press and Everton won 1-0 at Goodison Park, with the visitors not managing a single shot on target.

After that immensely concerning performance, Leeds will consider Saturday’s visit of Southampton as a must-win match. In recent games, Leeds have tried to pass out from the back and develop their play but they’ve lacked creativity. 

Wingers Wilfried Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville both have a box of tricks with plenty of pace, but if you mark them tight, you can starve Leeds of any supply line to Patrick Bamford.

Both Gnonto and Summerville need to simplify their play and get the ball into the box for Bamford quicker, or link up with the striker and go for goal.

Elland Road is such an atmospheric ground, it has perhaps led the Leeds’ players to become frantic in their play when in the final third.

Tomorrow their forwards need to find a calmness and composure to show their class and secure a much-needed win, otherwise they will be left relying on a miracle to avoid relegation.

Teams have learnt to bypass Leeds’ press and play the ball long, which is what Everton did last week – they can no longer suffocate opponents and win possession high in the final third

They have turned to former Watford boss Javi Gracia who they hope will give them a direction

Seeing Southampton’s players push Ruben Selles in front of the away fans to take his applause after their win at Chelsea was significant.

That was a clear message from the team that they value this caretaker and Selles has now been confirmed as manager until the end of the season. 

Southampton have averaged one of the youngest line-ups this campaign and under Nathan Jones, they looked painfully inexperienced. 

But Selles packed his side with experience for that trip to Chelsea. He changed from a back three to a back four and used Ainsley Maitland-Niles at right back with Stuart Armstrong ahead of him. 

He put Armel Bella-Kotchap alongside Jan Bednarek in central defence — the first time they’ve started together as a pair this season. 

He used Romain Perraud in his favoured position at left back behind the returning Mohamed Elyounoussi. 

In midfield, Romeo Lavia was dropping deep to receive the ball while James Ward-Prowse pushed further up the pitch. Selles started both January signings Paul Onuachu and Kamaldeen Sulemana up top. 

Onuachu is 6ft 7in and can hold the ball up, Sulemana is rapid and gives great energy. 

Seeing Southampton’s players push Ruben Selles in front of the away fans to take his applause after their outstanding 1-0 win at Chelsea was significant –  he now has the job full-time

Ward-Prowse is still Southampton’s stand-out player – he has turned free-kicks into an art form

But Ward-Prowse is still the stand-out player. He’s turned free-kicks into an art form. He’s now only one behind David Beckham’s record of 18 and Leeds will need to be wary of that today.

But it is Ward-Prowse’s all-round play that impresses me most. He roams and whips in crosses from both flanks and his creativity is vital.

If they were to go down, I’m certain Ward-Prowse will be playing in the Premier League next season regardless, because a big club will snap him up. 

After beating Chelsea, although it’s only one win, Saints will be daring to dream and believing they can come away from Leeds on Saturday with another priceless three points to burst out of the drop zone.

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