Leeds 1-0 Southampton: Junior Firpo strikes late - Mail 25/2/23

Leeds 1-0 Southampton: Junior Firpo strikes late for the hosts to take them out of the relegation zone as Javi Gracia wins his first game as manager... with Saints rooted to the bottom after defeat at jubilant Elland Road

Junior Firpo's right-footed shot 13 minutes from time helped Leeds beat Saints

It was Javi Gracia's first match in charge of the hosts as they jumped up to 17th

Southampton are left adrift at the foot of the Premier League table with defeat

By JOE BERNSTEIN

There was a sense of justice in Leeds United winning their first match under new manager Javi Gracia to climb out of the relegation zone.

Southampton, the only team below them at the start of play, had a not very subtle plan to spoil the game with players going down “injured”, delaying goal-kicks to tie bootlaces and even coming out late for the second half.

Once Junior Firpo had broken the deadlock after 77 minutes – his strike beating goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu despite lacking power - the visitors suddenly found a new urgency.

And there was delicious irony in Leeds striker Patrick Bamford departing so slowly when he was substituted that Southampton’s Romeu Lavia was booked for harassing his opponent and telling him to hurry up.

The victory was Leeds’ first since Bonfire Night when Jesse Marsch was in charge of a 4-3 thriller against Bournemouth.

This was altogether scrappier and riddled with tension. But the celebrations at the final whistle underlined the importance. There were smiles, hugs and goalkeeper Illan Meslier conducting the thousands of fans who stayed behind the to celebrate.

Gracia, chosen for this rescue mission because of his previous work at Watford, was satisfied both with the points and clean sheet given Leeds’ reputation for being leaky under Marcelo Bielsa and Marsch.

‘I felt everyone at the club needed a good result and it was an important step,’ he said.

‘We prepared to be compact and solid and the players did their job. We found a good balance between defending and attacking.

‘We need to be strong at home if we want to achieve our target of staying up. We know it’s only one win, but it is special for us.’

For Saints manager Ruben Selles, whose job was turned from interim to permanent after last week’s win at Chelsea, it was a sobering reminder of the struggle that lies ahead.

He tried to protect his players afterwards but it didn’t disguise an underwhelming display. Southampton have scored only twice from open play in 10 games.

‘It was disappointing because we came to perform, but we didn’t give ourselves a chance,’ he said. ‘We missed the triggers to attack and didn’t have the right distances in defence. It is my responsibility, my fault if I didn’t explain it well.

‘The goal we conceded, I should have given them more tools to cope with the situation before it came into the penalty area. If someone is to be blamed, it is me.’

Gracia made just one change for his debut with Brenden Aaronson replacing Crysencio Summerville. But there was a tactical tweak with the American pushed up front to join Patrick Bamford in a two-pronged attack.

Leeds edged the first half on points but in truth neither side were very good.

Luke Ayling missed the target and Aaronson was prevented from scoring when his shot hit team-mate Jack Harrison in the face.

It took 36 minutes for either side to have a shot on target through Bamford which Bazunu gathered comfortably.

Saints were only sporadic in attack though Stuart Armstrong should have done better than hit the side-netting and Paul Onuachu was denied by Meslier after a quick turn by Kamaldeen Sulemana on the counter.

Home fans were frustrated by frequent stops in play. Defender Armel Bella-Kotchap twice needed lengthy treatment and Gavin Bazunu waited for Romain Perraud to sort out his footwear before taking a goal-kick.

There were jeers when only one minute of injury-time was signalled at the end of the first half and after the interval Leeds players were ready to restart long before Southampton re-emerged from their dressing-room.

Gnonto was surprisingly withdrawn for Summerville after an hour despite being his usual bright self. ‘Everyone was playing well but I wanted fresh legs,’ explained Gracia.

The alteration produced dividends when Summerville cleverly wriggled into space on the left to help set up the winner.

His pass into Harrison was played onto Firpo with a neat backheel and though the full-back’s shot wasn’t firmly struck, it caught Bazunu unawares and the ball squeezed past his outstretched left arm.

Southampton suddenly woke up and Selles sent on Adam Armstrong to try and rescue a point. But it was Leeds who came closest to scoring again when Summerville broke through in injury-time but dragged his shot wide.

Gracia was able to witness at full-time a bouncing Elland Road who now believe they can be in the top flight next season.

‘I already knew about this atmosphere before I came but to live inside it, it’s different. Really special,’ he said with enthusiasm.

‘I am very optimistic because if we can play like that today after one day working together, next week we are going to play much better.’