LEEDS climbed back into the top half of the table last night, as three second-half goals secured them a 3-0 home win against Southampton.

Patrick Bamford, Stuart Dallas and Raphinha all netted to lift Marcelo Bielsa's side above Arsenal and up to 10th.

Southampton were not without their chances and, despite being overrun after the interval, were still in the game until Dallas made it 2-0 in the 77th minute.

But the Saints' winless league run was extended to eight matches by the defeat.

The visitors twice threatened to take an early lead, as Jannik Vestergaard headed James Ward-Prowse's free-kick wide and Nathan Tella almost marked his first Premier League start with a fine solo effort.

The midfielder skipped around Leeds skipper Liam Cooper, but his curling shot was comfortably saved by Illan Meslier.

Raphinha laid a golden chance on a plate for Tyler Roberts, but he blazed over from the cutback.

VAR then correctly denied the visitors a penalty. Tella went down too easily under a challenge from Diego Llorente, and referee Andre Marriner corrected his initial decision after watching the replays.

Southampton thought they had broken the deadlock when Che Adams latched on to Ward-Prowse's smart free-kick, but Marriner ruled it out after claiming he was not ready.

Leeds made a flying start to the second half and took the lead in the 47th minute.

Bamford raced on to Roberts' excellent through-ball and clipped a cool left-footed finish into the bottom corner.

Southampton responded through Stuart Armstrong, who forced Meslier into a flying save, before Leeds spurned good chances through Roberts, Bamford and Llorente.

Southampton threatened to equalise when Vestergaard's close-range effort was blocked by Bamford and Mohammed Salisu fired over.

Dallas then settled any home nerves when he crashed in Leeds' second from the edge of the area in the 77th minute.

The home side chased a third and Raphinha curled an excellent free-kick around the wall and into the bottom corner seven minutes later to wrap things up.