THERE was to be no fairy-tale follow-up for Ruben Selles as the new Saints boss after Leeds United earned a 1-0 win at Elland Road in a relegation six-pointer.

The Whites deserved the points they got after only wasteful final play had spared Saints, who remain bottom of the Premier League table and go four points adrift.

Saints were looking to keep back-to-back clean sheets in the Premier League for the first time since last February but Junior Firpo netted in the 77th minute to dash those hopes.

It was another feeble bit of goalkeeping from Gavin Bazunu but he was not helped out by his ball-watching defence as it made its way from the pitch’s corner to goal.

Yorkshire was feeling the influence of the Iberian peninsula as two Spanish managers took charge of their first games after permanent appointments this week.

Selles’s Saints sat bottom of the Premier League while Javi Gracia takes charge of 19th-placed Leeds United – only a win for the visitors at Elland Road could take them out of the relegation zone.

Selles named an unchanged side from the victory at Chelsea in his only match as interim boss, with Duje Caleta-Car the only change to the squad as he returned to the bench after three straight absences.

James Ward-Prowse levelled Jason Dodd’s club record of 329 Premier League appearances as he led the team out onto the famous turf, only one free-kick behind equalling David Beckham’s league record too.

The two sides traded hits in what would have been a dull opening half if not for the ramifications, but nobody landed. Stuart Armstrong’s early sighter was well blocked and Leeds United’s Wilfried Gnonto looked dangerous.

Selles was left absolutely furious with Kamaldeen Sulemana as the new acquisition refused to chase down a dying cause with space to be attacked, despite his manager’s visible and audible animation on the touchline.

Leeds ended the half much the stronger team but frustration grew among the home supporters as they failed to pick the right decisive pass during a number of opportunities to take the lead, while Weston McKennie fired over a good chance after a weak Gavin Bazunu punch.

The second half continued in a similar vein but Saints were able to keep hold of the ball for extended periods – albeit not threatening.

Selles had seen enough by the 62nd minute and opted for a triple-change, with Armstrong – who had been the culprit of losing the ball in a dangerous area more than once, Onuachu and Kamaldeen making way.

Kyle Walker-Peters’s first touch was a spectacular block on Crysencio Summerville in the area after a low cross broke into the Dutch winger’s path – and Saints were spared again.

They would not be once more, though. As Summerville danced from the corner flag to the area unopposed it found its way to Firpo whose tame finish bounced through Bazunu’s sluggish attempt to get to ground.

Elland Road got the lift Saints really needed it to not get and this was exampled by jeers to Romeo Lavia as he got booked for ‘helping’ Patrick Bamford get off the pitch that bit quicker when he was substituted.

It was only Leeds who came close to scoring through five minutes of additional time, Summerville firing wide when he should have squared and put Saints to the sword. It did not matter, though.

Leeds United: Meslier; Ayling, Firpo, Koch, Wober; Adams, McKennie, Aaronson (Rutter, 75), Harrison; Bamford (Roca, 86), Gnonto (Summerville, 59).

Unused subs: Monteiro, Kristensen, Gyabi, Greenwood, Joseph, Robles (g/k).

Booked: Gnonto, Bamford.

Saints: Bazunu; Maitland-Niles, Bednarek, Bella-Kotchap, Perraud (Walker-Peters, 71); Lavia, Ward-Prowse, Elyounoussi (A Armstrong, 81), S Armstrong (Diallo, 62); Kamaldeen (Mara, 62), Onuachu (Walcott, 62).

Unused subs: Caleta-Car, Djenepo, Alcaraz, Caballero (g/k).

Booked: S Armstrong, Lavia, Bella-Kotchap.

Referee: Peter Bankes.

VAR: Simon Hooper.

Attendance: 36,691.

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