LEEDS 1 (Snodgrass 76), SOUTHAMPTON 0
Leeds: Ankergren, Bromby, Naylor, Kisnorbo, Hughes, Howson (Johnson 75), Doyle, Kilkenny, Snodgrass, Beckford (Gradel 75), Becchio. Subs: D Martin, Crowe, Grella, Kandol, Ephraim.
Southampton: Bialkowski, Jaidi, Harding, Perry, James, Hammond, Waigo N'Diaye (Antonio 79), Thomas (Gobern 86), Lambert, Lallana, Connolly (Trotman 90). Subs: Davis, Wotton, Mills, Mellis.
Referee: N Miller
Booked: Kisnorbo (Leeds), Lallana, Lambert (Soton)
Att: 25,948
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Simon Grayson had again made a number of changes as his side faced a Southampton team enjoying a good run of form.
Leeds were unbeaten in the league since January at Elland Road and a healthy crowd turned out for the pre-Christmas fixture.
There was a controversial opening to proceedings, though, when Jermaine Beckford felt he had good claims for a penalty after being felled while through on goal inside the opening five minutes.
Early chances were few and far between, however, as the two sides looked to adapt to the conditions of a pitch partially covered by snow.
United did look to force an opening and Radhi Jaidi blocked a Robert Snodgrass shot before Micky Doyle also had a shot blocked from the resultant corner.
Some more good play by United led to Andrew Hughes winning a corner as he looked to whip in a ball from the byline. Luciano Becchio headed the resultant corner just wide of the mark.
At the other end, Leigh Bromby reacted well to cut out a dangerous pass from Adam Lallana.
Becchio was next to try his luck when he turned well and hit a shot over the bar on the half-hour mark.
Leeds had enjoyed the better of the opening period in terms of possession and Becchio headed over the top after a good cross from Snodgrass.
Shortly before half-time, Dean Hammond screwed an effort wide for the visitors, but it was Leeds who were in the ascendancy as the game headed towards the break.
Leeds also started the second half on the front foot, Jonny Howson forcing Barotsz Bialkowski into making a good save. When United threatened again, the ball fizzed across the face of goal.
Tempers flared on the hour-mark when a frustrated Rickie Lambert clashed with Paddy Kisnorbo, but Leeds were still looking the better of the two sides.
United came within a whisker on 67 minutes when Howson tried his luck from distance with an effort which skidded just wide of the upright.
The breakthrough finally came on 76 minutes, though, courtesy of wonderful individual effort from Snodgrass. The Scot worked himself an opening by twisting and turning as he cut in from the left before delivering a superb strike from distance.
Leeds were good value for the lead and, unsurprisingly, Grasyon's men had some defending to do during the closing stages as Southampton looked to mount a late rally in the hope of bagging an equaliser.
Four minutes of added time created a tense finale - Lambert fired across the face of goal with Southampton's first decent chance of the game - but United held firm to win the clash and to guarantee the leadership of League One at Christmas.
