Beattie sinks Leeds

Rio Ferdinand and James Beattie tussle at The Dell

Southampton 1-0 Leeds

In-form James Beattie fired his sixth goal in seven games to give Saints a valuable win at The Dell.

The striker latched on to Marian Pahars' through-ball to beat Paul Robinson with an angled shot across the goalkeeper into the far corner.

But his strike was overshadowed by a mass confrontation near the end of the game which resulted in Hassan Kachloul being ordered off by referee Paul Durkin.

There were so many bodies around the ball, and the crowd influence referees here in the nicest way

  Leeds boss David O'Leary

Saints' win was just reward for a battling performance, and leaves Leeds even further behind in the race to get back into the Champions League.

Ferdinand losses

Beattie scored three minutes before half-time, outpacing Rio Ferdinand to finish off the move.

Leeds have now lost both games in which they £18m man has played..

The defender was back in the starting line-up after being ineligible for the Champions League away win over Lazio, replacing Lucas Radebe.

Although both sides had chances for another goal after half-time, the second half will be remembered more for the late brawl than goals and chances.

James Beattie has had one chance and has put it in, and that's the sign of a player playing with immense confidence

  Southampton boss Glenn Hoddle

Tempers frayed as Leeds pushed hard to get back on level terms.

An off-the-ball incident between Alan Smith and Southampton substitute Mark Draper sparked ugly scenes in the 83rd minute.

Draper and Smith were yellow-carded and the matter appeared to be over, but Kachloul saw red after pushing his forehead into Bowyer's face.

'Something said'

The Morrocan's manager Glenn Hoddle said Kachloul had "reacted poorly" to provocation from Leeds' players.

"It's something he's got to learn from and he will be dealt with by me," admitted the Saints boss.

He claimed that Kachloul's reaction had its roots in "something that was said to him" in a game between the clubs last season.

An open first half had begun in torrential rain but saw both sides playing incisive attacking football.

The visitors arrived with an excellent record at The Dell, having won six and drawn one of their last nine trips.

But Saints carved out the first period's better chances.

Beattie should have done better with a close-range header from a Kevin Davies cross on 33 minutes.

But goalkeeper Paul Jones twice had to come to the home side's rescue.

He tipped over Olivier Dacourt's goal-bound 30-yard free-kick and then beat away Ferdinand's powerful header at a corner.

Leeds went close to equalising just 15 seconds into the second half as Saints were caught napping by Mark Viduka and Alan Smith.

The strikers combined to put Lee Bowyer through on goal but Jones palmed the ball away.

Southampton then missed a chance for 2-0 when Claus Lundekvam flicked on Marian Pahars' corner and Taher El Khalej only made glancing contact.

There was no way back for Leeds, although Jones saved Smith's left-foot snap-shot and Dodd tracked back superbly to clear from Viduka.

Southampton: Jones, Dodd, Lundekvam, Oakley, El Khalej, Kachloul, Beattie, Pahars, Bridge, Tessem, Davies. Subs: Moss, Draper, Benali, Rosler, Gibbens.

Leeds: Robinson, Kelly, Matteo, Ferdinand, Woodgate, Dacourt, Bowyer, Bakke, Wilcox, Viduka, Smith. Subs: Milosevic, Kewell, Mills, Jones, Radebe.

Referee: P Durkin (Dorset)