SOUTHAMPTON 1 (Harding 25), UNITED 0
Southampton: Davis, Jaidi, Harding, Otsemobor (Thomas 15), Fonte, Hammond, Puncheon, Schneiderlin, Lambert, Lallana, Barnard (D'Yiaye 72). Subs: Boalowski, Seaborne, Wotton, Connolly, Oxlade-Chamberlain.
United: Ankergren, Hughes, Naylor, Kisnorbo, White (Bromby 46), Snodgrass, Doyle, Howson, McSheffrey (Kilkenny 62), Beckford, Becchio (Gradel 77). Subs: Martin, Dickov, Johnson, Crowe.
Referee: P Walton
Booked: Jaidi, Puncheon (Southampton), Howson, Kisnorbo, Gradel (Leeds)
Att: 30794 (2336 Leeds)
United manager Simon Grayson named an unchanged team as his side looked to build on the 4-1 midweek at Tranmere and strengthen the position in the promotion places.
Southampton had scored 10 goals in their last two home games and, despite starting from 10 points behind the field due to administration, the Saints were the biggest spenders in League One and were still harbouring hopes of a Play-Off push.
An open game was the pre-match prediction, and the opening exchanges went some way to confirming that with both sides having goal attempts inside the first few minutes.
Jason Puncheon, sent off against Leeds at MK Dons back in September, tried his luck with an ambitious curler from distance while Jermaine Beckford felt he had claims for a penalty after taking a tumble under pressure from Jose Fonte.
Robert Snodgrass also powered in a free-kick from distance, but the ball smashed against Luciano Becchio, and from a Saints free-kick, Radhi Jaidi found acres of space but headed over.
United responded immediately, Beckford shaved the woodwork with a great strike from distance, and Becchio failed to control after a surging 40-yard run from Gary McSheffrey.
On 14 minutes, Casper Ankergren made a great block to deny Dean Hammond, who struck the ball sweetly from distance, and Paddy Kisnorbo reacted quickly to clear the danger. Hammond also sent another effort over the top.
Puncheon went even closer when he struck the post after cutting in from the right and it was certainly an entertaining opening to a contest in which both sides looked a threat with the ball.
But it was the hosts who struck first, courtesy of former United defender Dan Harding. Puncheon was involved in the build-up and Harding raced into the six-yard box to convert before celebrating in front of the travelling Leeds fans.
Lee Barnard also had a shot deflected for a corner as the home side came back at Leeds and moments later they Jaidi thought he had added a second, but referee Peter Walton disallowed the goal for an infringement.
On 35 minutes, it took a goal-line clearance from a grounded Andrew Hughes to deny the home side as Southampton looked to capitalise on the momentum their opener had brought about.
Adam Lallana was next to waste a good chance when he headed over from close range while United had a token effort on 42 minutes when Snodgrass sent a free-kick wide after Jaidi was booked following a clash with Beckford.
The half-time interval couldn't come quick enough for Leeds, who were clearly rattled by the goal, and during the moments leading up to the break the challenges started flying in as tempers hotted up.
Grayson responded during the interval by replacing Aidy White with Leigh Bromby, Hughes moving across to left-back for the second half.
Four years ago, Leeds had come back from 3-0 down in the final 20 minutes of the contest, and the class of 2010 faced another important second period in the hope of taking something from the clash.
And it was United who had the first attempt of the second half when Beckford curled a shot into the arms of Kelvin Davis.
Leeds were seeing more of ball, but Southampton were restricting the supply line well and were still incisive when in possession themselves.
There was a short stoppage on the hour when McSheffery needed treatment for a head wound, but with his head bandaged, Grayson replaced the loan man with Neil Kilkenny.
The Aussie brought a calmness to proceedings and Leeds were looking to be more constructive, but when the home side broke it took some good defending from Kisnorbo to cut out a Puncheon cross before Ankergren scrambled back to clear the corner.
With 13 minutes remaining, and Leeds still in the contest, Grayson replaced Becchio with Max Gradel as he sought an equaliser. The sub made an immediate impact and was booked within 30 seconds for a lunge at Harding.
As the game headed towards its final five minutes, United were becoming guilty of conceding possession too easily, and as a result, Ankergren was called upon to save from Papa Waigo N'Diaye.
United mounted a late raid, Jaidi headed a Bromby throw just wide of his own goal, but the resultant corner came to nothing.
Five minutes of added time gave hope, and in the second minute of stoppage time Snodgrass sent a shot wide of the mark, but time quickly ran out as United went down by the single goal.
