JAMES BEATTIE took over as Saints leading scorer as his seventh goal in six games gave them the nod over Leeds United at a rainswept Dell.

Dean Richards failed a fitness test on a hamstring in a pre-match blow for Glenn Hoddle who kept Tahar El Khalej in the centre of defence.

But Marian Pahars recovered from the slight thigh pull which kept him out at Arsenal and his return for Mark Draper was the only Southampton change.

Leeds also made one alteration from the side which pulled off a stunning midweek victory at Lazio.

Skipper Lucas Radebe was rested and dropped to the bench to make way for £18 million British record signing Rio Ferdinand.

Harry Kewell, still not match fit after a long lay-off with an achilles problem was among the substitutes.

A torrential downpour just before kick-of made the surface slippery and both teams took a few minutes to find their feet.

A dangerous cross by Matteo was headed away well by Lundekvam and then a surging run by Pahars was halted by Woodgate.

A hard but fair challenge by Lundekvam left Smith dazed with referee Paul Durkin stopping play instantly for him to receive attention.

Saints carved out their first opening on seven minutes when Oakley played the ball up the right for Tessem who had to wait for it as it slowed on the wet surface. The Norwegain ran on and squared for Oakley but the ball again held up slightly and he could only manage a half-hit effort over the bar.

Almost immediately Leeds broke down the right with Bakke crossing for the unmarked Wilcox beyond the far post but he put his angled shot too high.

Then Oakley threaded the ball through the centre for Pahars to work space for a shot but Robinson got behind it well.

A driven low cross by Davies on the right was spilled by the keeper but kicked clear before Kachloul could pounce.

Bakke had his name taken after 12 minutes for a bad tackle on Oakley. The free-kick by Pahars was cleared by Woodgate while Oakley was receiving treatment.

A swinging cross by Kachloul eluded Beattie and almost fell for Davies but Matteo had tracked across well to block him out.

Viduka found Smith who laid back for Bakke but his 22-yard shot coasted just wide.

Daourt had a go from just outside the right edge of the area but was just too high then Bowyer found Kelly unchecked on the overlap and his cross cut out the keeper but was nodded behind by Dodd and the corner cleared by Beattie.

Kachloul gave the ball away to Bowyer and then was lucky to escape a booking as he tugged the midfielder back on a run at goal and from the resulting free-kick Tessem headed away the cross by Kelly.

Davies found Pahars who turned and shot from 20 yards but the left foot effort flew just wide. A long kick by Jones was nodded down by Beattie for Tessem who dragged a weak left-footed effort well wide.

Ferdinand almost got his first goal for Leeds on the half-hour when he met Bowyer's right-wing corner with a firm free header but Jones got across to his left to scrabble it behind. Oakley delighted the crowd juggling the ball first over Dacourt and then Bakke and went for glory with a first-time shot but he failed to get enough power to trouble Robinson.

A right-wing cross by Davies almost set up Beattie who met the header too straight under pressure and then Pahars curled a shot just over from 20 yards after the referee had played advantage as Kachloul was flattened.

A lovely piece of skill by Davies worked space for a cross which skimmed off the head of Beattie in front of goal.

Davies fouled Matteo to give Leeds a free-kick 28 yards out and dead centre. With Ian Harte injured it was taken by Dacourt who clipped the ball over the wall towards the top right corner but Jones made a superb save.

Three minutes before the break Southampton's pressure told and once again it was in-form striker BEATTIE who got the goal.

Tessem pushed the ball forward to Pahars who slipped it through the inside-right channel for Beattie to peel away into space between Ferdinand and Matteo and he drilled a precise low shot across Robinson and into the bottom left corner for his seventh goal in six games.

In injury time Bakke fired over from 20 yards. Half-time:

SAINTS 1 - LEEDS 0

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