RALPH Hasenhuttl admitted his team made it “too easy” for Leeds to surge to a 3-0 victory in the second half as Saints’ Premier League struggles continued.

The St Mary’s side had chances to take the advantage in a bright opening 45 minutes at Elland Road.

They could also count themselves unlucky when having an awarded penalty chalked off by VAR and Che Adams’s strike ruled out from a quick free-kick, which was not deemed permissible by referee Andre Marriner.

But Leeds were dominant in the second period with goals from Stuart Dallas, Patrick Bamford and Raphinha ensuring Marcelo Bielsa’s side ran riot in west Yorkshire.

Hasenhuttl said: “It’s too easy what we do in the second half.

“After the first goal, that was much too easy the first chance on the other side – we had not the right game plan anymore because we left what we could do perfectly first half.

“They had no chances in the first half. We were dominating. We had massive chances for scoring and then you give it away in a way that is much too easy.

“You know when you concede the first goal, they have more space. Then they have space and then they are strong because they have quality and speed.

“As soon as you go one down it’s tougher for us and easier for them. What came after was clear that this was more of their game because they get more space.

“They have so much one-against-one quality and we couldn’t close it anymore and then you take more risks.

“It’s clear when you are one down then it’s a completely different game.”

Defeat left Saints 14th in the Premier League table, having picked up just one point from a possible 24.