WHAT price a Nationwide League football club? The question took on a desperate new relevance at tea-time yesterday as Leeds United, already demoted to the bottom of the Premiership by Wolves’ earlier heroics, sank to their 13th defeat of the season and a new low in their distinguished history. Defeat was hardly the proper prelude to a week that could decide the future of the entire club, let alone the team.

Although a two-week stay of execution is a distinct possibility, you could hear the sharpening of the administrators’ pencils and envisage the “For Sale” signs being hung round the necks of their most talented players.

Alan Smith, comfortably the best player on the park yesterday, would surely be the first through the door. Yet nothing could advertise the plight of the club more sharply. Smith is a Leeds boy through and through. His industry and commitment, sometimes misplaced but never diminished, remains the template for the rest of his teammates.

Rarely have Leeds needed to advertise the qualities that were once the lifeblood of a great club. Instead, basic defensive errors gifted Southampton a two-goal half-time lead and by the time caretaker manager Eddie Gray responded to the dilemma by giving Smith much-needed support in attack, the game was sinking with the sun.

Matthew Kilgallon’s firm header 15 minutes from time produced a glimmer of hope and Michael Svensson rolled an attempted clearance against his own post in a frantic finale, but Southampton had already enjoyed enough chances to wrap up their first win of the new year well before the final whistle. Sadly for Gordon Strachan’s wellbeing, the composure of Brett Ormerod and Kevin Phillips which brought them a goal apiece deserted them in a free-flowing second half.

The word on the south coast is that Philippe Troussier, who coached Japan in the last World Cup, will take over Strachan’s seat for next season. Troussier would certainly be an eccentric in the Scot’s mould and will be marginally more comprehensible.

Gray was forced to make a number of changes to the side that lost at home to Tottenham, notably losing Mark Viduka, who flew to Australia last week to be with his critically ill father. His absence left the visiting team seriously undermanned in attack, with Smith operating as a lone striker in front of a five-man midfield. He might have given Leeds a precious early lead, but he dragged his shot wide of Antti Niemi’s post. It was a strangely lacklustre effort, indicative of Leeds’s low confidence.

Despite a header against the bar by Fitz Hall and a long-range shot by Ormerod, Leeds might have gone ahead on the half-hour but Jermaine Pennant’s shot from five yards out was well blocked by Niemi. The significance of that save was magnified moments later when Ormerod, played into space between the centre-backs by David Prutton, turned Kilgallon and thumped the opener past a helpless Paul Robinson.

If that was an elementary goal, the second, on the stroke of half-time, was a catalogue of errors. First, Kelly rolled the ball back to Zoumana Camara, whose lamentable control allowed Phillips to nip ahead of him. It had been six long months since the former Sunderland striker last scored in the Premiership, but his instinct did not let him down and Robinson was beaten once more.

It was a little late for damage limitation, but that seemed to be the Leeds policy after the break. Morris and Milner did at least explore the flanks, to no worthwhile effect.

Leeds’s consolation came from a short corner and a beautifully flighted left-foot cross from Pennant, met firmly by Kilgallon at close range.

Fifteen minutes left and, at last, some fight. A minute later, Michael Bridges knocked down a cross and Smith thundered a shot against the bar, although the referee’s assistant ruled the Leeds striker offside. Phillips was gifted a golden chance to wrap up Southampton’s first victory in the new year but, having run 60 yards unchallenged, he blasted his shot wide.

“It’s not a healthy situation,” Gray said, “but we’ve got to get on with it. Winning games is the only thing that can help us now.” Unless somebody has £35m in their back pocket and a streak of masochism running through their veins.

Substitutes: Southampton: Hall (Kenton 80min), Phillips (Beattie 86min), Fernandes (Telfer 86min)
Leeds: Morris (Bridges 65 min)

Booked: Camara

Referee: A Wiley

Attendance: 31,976

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