sport news Ralph Hasenhuttl comes out fighting as spirited Southampton change their ways ... trends now
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Ralph Hasenhuttl is the fourth longest-serving manager in the Premier League and has experienced plenty in his rollercoaster, near four years in charge.
He will no doubt be familiar with the top-flight's ups and downs, as his opposite number Jesse Marsch discussed when offering the Southampton manager some words of comfort.
He had already seen the huge impact that a change of formation can make before he did so once more against Leeds. Was it a late, desperate throw of the dice or an inspired piece of management? Time will tell.
Ralph Hasenhuttl watched his Southampton side fall two goals behind against Leeds at home
Kyle Walker-Peters' goal relieved the pressure on the manager Ralph Hasenhuttl at St Mary's
What was clear was it worked a treat and earned Southampton a much-needed point to keep the wolves at bay.
Southampton kicked off the day on the back of one win in 14 games in all competitions going back as far as last March.
And soon things began looking much trickier when Rodrigo's double for Leeds left them staring another defeat in the face.
Southampton's faith in youth has paid off
The St Mary's crowd, already venting at what was unfolding in front of them, felt ready to turn fully toxic.
But credit to Hasenhuttl. He aborted his back-three experiment in the closing stages to revert to a more familiar 4-2-2-2, which saw his team create a string of chances as they carried far greater threat, his substitutes all impacted the game and goals by Joe Aribo and Kyle Walker-Peters salvaged a point for their manager.
Hasenhuttl has been dabbling with a back three again this season in an attempt to give Southampton greater defensive solidity. Based on the four goals conceded against Spurs and two against Leeds,
