Leeds boss Javi Gracia got off to a perfect start as Junior Firpo helped Leeds produce one of the narrow football results of the weekend in the Premier League. Gracia was named to succeed Jesse Marsch on Tuesday, and his arrival motivated Leeds to their first win in 11 games, lifting them out of the Premier League relegation zone. Firpo’s 77th-minute goal, which wiggled under Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, proved decisive in a low-quality match. The left-goal back’s sealed Southampton’s defeat in Ruben Selles’ first game as permanent manager after being hired on Friday following last weekend’s success against Chelsea as interim manager. The defeat maintains Southampton at the bottom of the table, four points from safety, while Leeds moves up to 17th, one point clear of the drop zone.
Both teams started the day in the bottom three, and the first-half activity showed that. With a feeble 38th-minute shot, Saints striker Paul Onuachu forced Illan Meslier into the game’s opening save, while Leeds midfielder Weston McKennie put over after Bazunu’s weak punch landed on him on the edge of the box. Referee Peter Bankes denied Patrick Bamford’s penalty claim after he was hauled down by Jan Bednarek in the first minute of the second half.
Saints captain James Ward-Prowse, who tied Jason Dodd’s record of 329 Premier League games, had the sole shot on goal in the second half, a powerful strike from distance that was straight at Meslier. Firpo pounced onto Jack Harrison’s excellent backheel and scored low under Bazunu to score his first Premier League goal with 13 minutes remaining. Crysencio Summerville came close to scoring a second in added time, but Leeds held on for their first league victory since November, while Southampton remain winless at Elland Road since 1998.
“It was a pleasant feeling to begin with a victory, but I suffered greatly because I wanted to get off to a good start. I’m pleased with it. I’m happy with my players because I never doubted their commitment or desire to better every day and strive for it, and they delivered tonight,” Leeds manager Javi Gracia said. “We had a fantastic day today after going 10 games without winning. It’s something the squad sorely needed. We understand that it is only one step, but it is a crucial step. The difference was that we were solid. We didn’t give up many chances. That is the manner we achieved a clean sheet, which is vital to us.”
“We’re disappointed, primarily with our performance. It was far from what we expected, and it was entirely my fault. The game plan was inadequate,” Southampton manager Ruben Selles said. “The boys tried their best and in some situations, we lacked a bit of aggression and that comes because we are not in the distance to apply the pressure. Next time we will be more ready. The boys gave it their all, but in other cases, we lacked aggression since we weren’t close enough to apply pressure. We’ll be better prepared the next time. We are in the middle of a process, and we are working hard to keep it going. We are aware that defeat is possible; the issue with failure is that we must improve our performance. We can lose 1-0, but we must provide a different image. We need to be proud of what we do, and today we were nothing near that.”
Leeds recorded their first win in the tournament without conceding since August (3-0 against Chelsea). Southampton has lost ten of its previous twelve Premier League games (W2) and will finish the day bottom of the table for the 69th time this season, 25 more than any other team. Leeds has not lost a Premier League home game against Southampton (W6 D3) since a 1-0 loss in February 1998. Since Leeds’ return to the Premier League in 2020, Jack Harrison has assisted 14 goals, at least three more than any other current Whites player in that time.
Leeds will now switch their attention to the FA Cup, with a trip to Fulham on Tuesday (7.45 p.m.). Javi Gracia’s team then travels to Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday for a 3 p.m. kickoff. Southampton’s next FA Cup encounter is on Wednesday when League Two Grimsby Town visits St Mary’s; kick-off is at 7.15 p.m. Saints will then play Leicester in the Premier League on Saturday at 5.30 p.m.
For more football results, click here
