UNITED 0 SOUTHAMPTON 3 (Rasiak 29, 75, Skacel 69)
United: Stack, Foxe, Heath, Kilgallon, Crainey, Douglas, Derry, Lewis (Beckford 70), Blake, Healy, Horsfield (Moore 55). Subs: Warner, Westlake, Johnson.
Southampton: Davis, Makin, Baird, Lundekvam, Bale, Surman, Wright, Pele, Skacel, Wright-Phillips (Viafara 64), Rasiak (McGoldrick 81). Subs: Bialkowski, Ostlund, Licka.
Referee: S Mathieson (Stockport)
Dennis Wise made just one change to his side as he looked to preside over a third successive home win since taking over as manager.
David Healy returned from suspension to take over from Richard Cresswell, who is struggling with a knee injury, while Hayden Foxe continued at right-back in place of the injured Gary Kelly (back).
In the Saints line-up, Jermaine Wright returned to Elland Road for the first time since his departure last summer.
United made a promising start and carved out a chance in the third minute when Robbie Blake flicked the ball over the Saints defence to Geoff Horsfield. But the United striker fired his angled shot wide of the near post.
Three minutes later Matty Heath stabbed the ball wide after Foxe had set him up with the opportunity.
When Saints mounted an attack, Graham Stack pulled off a diving save to his left to deny Bradley Wright-Phillips.
Only a good save by Saints keeper Kelvin Davis kept United out in the 15th minute when he palmed a rising shot from Healy over the bar after Foxe and Heath had combined well to set up the chance.
But, it was Southampton who took the lead on 29 minutes through Grzegorz Rasiak.
Gareth Bale whipped over a cross from left, Andrew Surman flicked the ball on, and former Tottenham striker Rasiak, lurking at the far post, finished with a fine header which looped over a stranded Stack.
United responded by applying some good pressure and won a series of corners, and Eddie Lewis could consider himself unfortunate when Bale reacted quickly to head away a curling free-kick.
Robbie Blake, revelling in his free role behind the strikers, also threatened moments before the interval, but visiting goalkeeper Davis got down well to parry a low shot from the United livewire.
United started the second half as they ended the first. Jonathan Douglas fed Healy with a delightful ball, but Horsfield was unable to connect with the pass across goal.
Southampton keeper Davis was called into action on 53 minutes when he came off his line to punch away an inswinging free-kick from Blake, and the Healy-Horsfield combination again stretched the defence when the Northern Ireland marksman floated another ball in which just drifted wide.
Leeds certainly started the second period with the bit between their teeth and Elland Road crowd responded by turning up the volume.
Davis was again called into action to deny Ian Moore after good work by Healy and Douglas had a shot charged down as United continued to press.
At the other end, Southampton always looked a threat on the break and, after one good opportunity went begging with a misplaced pass, Kilgallon denied the pacey Rudi Skacel with a well-timed challenge as he cut inside from the left.
And it was Czech international Skacel who furthered Southampton's advantage 20 minutes from time. Substitute Jhon Viafara got away down the Saints right and Skacel capitalised with a lethal finish after a low cross was allowed to skid across the face of goal.
Viafara looked lively after his introduction and, moments after teeing up the second goal, he tested Stack with a well-struck shot.
But, the resultant corner proved decisive, as Rasiak bagged his second of the afternoon when he headed home a good delivery from Bale.
After that there was little left in the game and it petered out without any further scoring.
