STILL Leeds United search for their first victory of the season, but be not deceived. Even Peter Reid, who had professed that he would not come off the wagon until his team had won, was raising a glass to this performance. After all the comings and goings, Elland Road can expect to be toasting respectability this season, if last night’s showing is any guide.

Southampton were marginally the more relieved with a draw — their third in succession — as Leeds produced an inventive and committed display. “I’ve cracked up a bit,” Reid said. “I’ve had a beer tonight. I’m really pleased with my players. If they continue to work like that and play like that, I’m sure we’ll win sooner rather than later.”

Gordon Strachan, the Southampton manager returning to the ground that he graced as a player, also preferred to view his glass as half full. “We’ve got back to being hard to beat,” he said. “You can take some consolation from a game when you’re not conceding goals and we are unbeaten. We’re trying to win games, but at least we’re making ourselves hard to play against while we’re finding our form.”

The rumour mill had kicked into overdrive before kick-off and reports that representatives of Inter Milan were in attendance renewed speculation that Mark Viduka could be the next player on his way out of Elland Road. And it did not stop there as, after the match, Tottenham Hotspur were said to be interested in signing Paul Robinson, the talented Leeds goalkeeper.

Leeds have been doing a fair amount of shopping of their own, of course, mainly on the never-never. Salomon Olembe, the Marseilles and Cameroon midfield player, will complete a medical today with a view to becoming their fifth loan signing of the summer and Reid has been linked with Roque Júnior, the Brazil central defender, from AC Milan.

Lamine Sakho has already arrived on a season-long loan from Marseilles and he impressed in the early stages last night. He was given offside — dubiously, to the naked eye — as he headed in Gary Kelly’s unplayable free kick in the second minute and also steered through the pass from which Jermaine Pennant had a fierce shot parried.

Pennant, on his full debut, was another to offer Leeds a freshness as they took the game to Southampton. Seth Johnson, revelling in the chance to establish himself as a first-choice central midfield player, was at the centre of their best play. Prompting the forwards with crisp, short passes, spraying the ball wide to Pennant or covering ground with zest, Johnson resembled the player who not so long ago was in the England squad.

It was Johnson’s drive from 20 yards that had Paul Jones scrambling to save to his left ten minutes before the interval. “He was brilliant,” Reid said. “He’s desperate, after all his injury problems, to do well and if he can get a run of matches together, I think we’ll see a really good player.”

Leeds may have domina- ted, but Southampton drew succour from their defensive solidity. Their attacking forays were rare, but, ironically, it was when Matt Oakley looked set to power Southampton into the lead that Leeds had their best chance of the night. Johnson threw himself into a challenge to charge down Oakley’s shot and the ball rebounded to Pennant. The winger skipped off down the right flank and crossed to perfection, landing the ball on the head of Sakho, who opted to nod it back to Alan Smith. The Leeds talisman had to check, however, and swivelled to drive his shot over the bar.

Leeds were applauded off the field. A first win of the season may be still to come, but the portents are encouraging.

LEEDS UNITED (4-4-2): P Robinson — G Kelly, Z Camara, D Matteo, I Harte (sub: F Richardson, 82min) — J Pennant (sub: J Wilcox, 90), J Morris (sub: D Batty, 67), S Johnson, L Sakho — A Smith, M Viduka. Substitutes not used: N Martyn, A Lennon. Booked: Matteo, Sakho.

SOUTHAMPTON (4-4-2): P Jones — J Dodd, C Lundekvam, M Svensson, G Le Saux — F Fernandes, M Oakley, R Delap (sub: P Telfer, 9), D Prutton (sub: N McCann, 78) — J Beattie, K Phillips (sub: B Ormerod, 85). Substitutes not used: A Blayney, D Higginbotham, Booked: Le Saux, Oakley, Fernandes.

Referee: P Durkin. Leeds United 0 Southampton 0