New Leeds boss Javi Gracia made the perfect start to life at Elland Road as Junior Firpo's second-half winner gave them a vital 1-0 home victory over relegation rivals Southampton
Gracia was appointed on Tuesday to succeed Jesse Marsch and his arrival inspired Leeds to their first win in 11 games to move them out of the Premier League relegation zone
Firpo's 77th-minute finish, which squirmed under Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, proved to be the difference in a low-quality encounter
The left-back's goal inflicted defeat in Ruben Selles' first game in permanent charge of Southampton after he was appointed on Friday following last weekend's win at Chelsea when he was in interim charge
The loss keeps Southampton bottom of the table, four points from safety, while Leeds are now a point clear of the drop zone in 17th
Both sides began the day in the bottom three and the first-half action reflected their positions in the table
Saints striker Paul Onuachu forced Illan Meslier into the game's first save with a weak 38th-minute effort, while Leeds midfielder Weston McKennie put over after Bazunu's weak punch fell to him on the edge of the box
Patrick Bamford had a penalty appeal turned down by referee Peter Bankes inside the opening minute of the second half after he was brought down by Jan Bednarek
Saints captain James Ward-Prowse, who equalled Jason Dodd's record of 329 Premier League appearances for Southampton, had their only shot on target in the second half with a powerful strike from distance which was straight at Meslier
But Leeds made the breakthrough with 13 minutes remaining as Firpo latched onto Jack Harrison's clever backheel and finished low under Bazunu to score his first Premier League goal
Substitute Crysencio Summerville came close to scoring a second in added time as he fired wide, but Leeds held on for their first league win since November, while Southampton remain winless at Elland Road since 1998
 "It was a nice experience to start with a win but I suffered a lot because I wanted to start well
 I'm proud of it
"I'm proud of my players because I never had any doubt about their commitment or their want to improve every day and work for it, and today they did their job
"Today we've lived a great experience after 10 games without winning
 It's something the team really needed
 We know it's only one step but an important step
"The difference was that we were solid
 We didn't concede many chances
 We got a clean sheet which is something important for us and that is the way
" "We're disappointed, mainly at the performance we put in
 It was nowhere near what we expected and that's my fault
 The game plan was not good enough
"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
"We are in a process and we are working hard to continue it
 We know a defeat can come; the problem in the defeat is that we need to perform better
 We can lose 1-0 but we need to give a different image
 We need to be proud of what we do and today we were not near being proud of what we do
"now turn their attentions to the FA Cup, with a trip to on Tuesday; kick-off 7
45pm
 Javi Gracia's side then travel to in the Premier League on Saturday; kick-off 3pm
next game is also in the FA Cup, with League Two side visiting St Mary's on Wednesday; kick-off 7
15pm
 Saints then host in the Premier League on Saturday, live on ; kick-off 5
30pm
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