Leeds scored four goals in an incredible final 20 minutes to complete an amazing comeback against Coca-Cola Championship rivals Southampton at a packed St Mary's.

Saints looked to be in cruise control when Marian Pahars' close-range strike and Nigel Quashie's brace put them 3-0 up at the interval.

But the introduction of David Healy sparked an incredible turnaround as goals from Paul Butler, Robbie Blake and Healy himself paved the way for on-loan Manchester United midfielder Liam Miller to snatch a sensational winner.

Kevin Blackwell's men got their first sight of goal when Rob Hulse nodded Gary Kelly's free-kick straight at Antti Niemi in the opening minute, but the Saints went on to dominate the next 70 minutes with Theo Walcott's pace and Quashie's neat midfield promptings a constant menace.

One Walcott run was only halted by Matthew Kilgallon's well-timed challenge, while Quashie saw a long-range shot cleared off the line by the young centre-half.

When Walcott's next surge forward was checked, the teenager teed up Pahars who curled his shot straight at Neil Sullivan.

Pahars, making his first appearance since April 2004 following a succession of injuries, grabbed the opener in the 27th minute when Quashie's corner was headed back across goal by Michael Svensson, giving the little striker the simple task of nodding the ball over the line.

Saints' second goal came from another charge from the effervescent Walcott, who rounded Dan Harding as if he wasn't there before squaring the ball for Quashie to slot home in the 35th minute.

Harding's afternoon then got worse when he was adjudged to have handled in the area in first-half stoppage time.

Quashie coolly slotted home the spot-kick before Pahars gingerly left the action, an entire half proving just beyond him, to be replaced by Neil McCann.

Harry Redknapp was forced to shuffle his pack further at the interval, Thomas Hajto and Ricardo Fuller joining the action after Dennis Wise and Claus Lundekvam failed to emerge.

Brett Ormerod was somehow denied a third goal of the season when his header was kept out by Sullivan at point-blank range, while Walcott's low drive forced another save from the veteran keeper.

Blackwell threw on Healy, who was not fit enough to start due to hamstring trouble, with 20 minutes remaining and Leeds' hopes were immediately raised when Butler rose unmarked to head home Kelly's corner.

With 12 minutes remaining Healy squared the ball for Blake, who neatly tucked the ball past the helpless Niemi.

And when Healy's chip was handled by Danny Higginbotham, the Northern Ireland frontman smashed home the equaliser from the spot.

But Leeds were not finished and with the Saints' defence in disarray, Hulse broke down the right and crossed for Miller to sidefoot the 85th-minute winner past a disbelieving Niemi.

Teams

Southampton Niemi, Delap, Lundekvam (Hajto 45), Svensson, Higginbotham, Oakley, Wise (Fuller 45), Quashie, Pahars (McCann 45), Walcott, Ormerod.

Subs Not Used: Belmadi, Smith.

Booked: Wise, Quashie.

Goals: Pahars 27, Quashie 35, 45 pen.

Leeds Sullivan, Kelly, Butler, Kilgallon, Harding, Richardson (Healy 67), Derry, Miller, Lewis, Hulse, Blake.

Subs Not Used: Pugh, Bennett, Walton, Douglas.

Booked: Butler, Lewis.

Goals: Butler 71, Blake 77, Healy 84 pen, Miller 86.

Att: 30,173

Ref: I Williamson (Berkshire).