Leeds United have work to do in the promotion race as Southampton leapfrog second-placed Ipswich Town.
One of Leeds United’s automatic promotion rivals have today broken a 103-year-old club record. In-form Southampton chalked up a 3-1 win to extend their unbeaten run to 21 matches.
Che Adams, Will Smallbone and birthday boy Flynn Downes scored first-half goals as the Saints secured Championship victory that should have been by a far greater margin. Jamie Paterson gave Swansea brief hope in cutting the deficit to 2-1, but this was a sobering defeat for the hosts – their first in four games since losing at Southampton on Boxing Day.
Southampton now eclipsed their best unbeaten run in all competitions since joining the Football League in 1920. The Saints went 20 games unbeaten the following year..
A sixth win from seven league games moves Southampton into second place on goal difference ahead of Ipswich before they face Championship leaders Leicester on Monday. Swansea fans gave Martin a warm welcome following his return to the club he managed for two years before leaving last June. Luke Williams, who worked as Martin’s assistant at MK Dons and Swansea, manned the home dugout for the first time in the league.
Williams began his reign with an FA Cup win over Morecambe and a Championship draw at Birmingham, but it was a much tougher proposition against the visitors, who were unbeaten since September 23. Southampton beat Swansea 5-0 at St Mary’s and could have reached that total. open for half an hour.Adams wasted a tantalizing chance before Carl Rushworth pushed Stuart Armstrong’s six-minute shot into the path of the Scotland striker to tap in for his ninth goal of the season..
