FORMER Premier League ace Micah Richards has called Saints defender Jan Bednarek’s defending into question following defeat at Leeds United.

The Polish international appeared to dummy Junior Firpo’s tame shot towards goal from close range in the pivotal moment during the 1-0 loss.

Bednarek was intending for young goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu to easily gather possession but it squirmed under the Irishman for the only goal of the clash.

The result meant Saints stay at the bottom of the Premier League with Leeds exiting the relegation zone and putting four points between the two teams.

Richards, who made 203 appearances in the English top-flight for Manchester City and Aston Villa, suggests Bednarek was blocking Bazunu’s sight.

"I want to break it down from a defensive point of view. Southampton here, you don't think he (Summerville) is going to get out of that tight space but they have got four defenders (in the box) versus two," Richards said on Match of the Day.

"Bednarek has to come across there (where Harrison and Firpo were on the edge of the box against Diallo) and help out his player. He doesn't, he waits and he is standing in front of the goalkeeper."

Richards added: "So I understand what he is trying to do. When I was playing in front of goalkeepers, they would always say, 'If someone is going to have a shot, don't put your foot out so there isn't a deflection, so I can read where the ball is going to go'.

“But he is blocking the line of the goalkeeper, I don't understand what he was doing there."

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