A round-up of the national media after Leeds United's draw with Southampton.
Spoils shared between 'good friends'
Louise Taylor of the Guardian said: "Jesse Marsch describes Ralph Hasenhüttl as a gentleman, a mentor, a gifted pianist and a good friend. Given that Southampton’s manager is similarly complimentary about his Leeds counterpart it was perhaps appropriate that no one lost an intense and entertaining game that left an improving Leeds eight points clear of the bottom three.
"They have gained renewed cohesion and confidence in the month since the American succeeded Marcelo Bielsa but they have not yet quite banished lingering relegation fears and could do with winning at Watford next Saturday.
"Marsch bonded with Hasenhüttl in the winter of 2016-17 when the former managed MLS’s New York Red Bulls and took advantage of the North American close season to travel to Germany and spend several weeks shadowing the Austrian, then in charge of RB Leipzig. Along the way Marsch gained plenty of tactical insights, not to mention an enjoyment of his friend’s piano playing.
"He seemed happy enough with the point resulting from their latest meeting. “I feel we were balanced and didn’t give too much away,” said the Leeds manager. “We’re trying to play with a little more poise and control. If we could just slow ourselves down and find a way to make the last pass a lot crisper, but I feel it was a step in the right direction.”
Whites will "only get better" despite being denied third straight win
Phil Dawkes of the BBC wrote: "The Whites were bright in the early stages and took the lead at Elland Road through Jack Harrison's poked finish after Saints keeper Fraser Forster had failed to claim a Raphinha cross.
"But their recent progress was checked when England midfielder Ward-Prowse added another superb free-kick to his ever-growing showreel to give the visitors a point that their overall performance deserved, ending a run of three straight league defeats. While making it clear that there is still much work to be done, Marsch was pleased with the performance, but not the point that leaves his side eight points above the bottom three.
"It was a real fight," he told BBC Sport. "Southampton play intensely. I know the coach well and he has done a good job with his team. For the most part I thought we defended well. We were organised. Maybe in the last phase of the match we were unlucky not to find more.
"The group is confident. They are committed to playing the way I would like them to play. Our work every day is fantastic, I really like being here with this team. I think we are only going to grow and get better. In terms of tactically and how I want a game to look like, that was one of our better performances."
The march slows briefly to a crawl
For Leeds, the march towards safety slows briefly to a crawl. For Kalvin Phillips, even the smallest steps represent progress.
There was a little under 25 minutes left when Elland Road rose as one to serenade their Yorkshire Pirlo — back after four months out with a hamstring problem.
Following Friday's World Cup draw, what better day for an England midfielder to restate his case? How Leeds have missed Phillips, how Gareth Southgate could do with his intelligence and industry in Qatar. How cruel that he was barged out of the limelight here by a Three Lions team-mate.
