Saints suffered their first defeat in eight games as league leaders Leeds United took a narrow 1-0 win at Elland Road.

Robert Snodgrass hit a 77th minute winner as the hosts edged a match which saw Saints match up to the table toppers for much of the game. The goal put a blemish on an otherwise flawless display at the back from Alan Pardew's side which proved his side can mix it with the top teams in the division.

A late flurry of shots from the visitors almost brought an equaliser and Saints also had a strong looking claim for a penalty in the dying moments of play, which unfortunately fell on deaf ears.

Leeds: Ankergren, Kisnorbo, Doyle, Naylor, Bromby, Kilkenny, Hughes, Snodgrass, Howson (Johnson 74), Beckford (Gradel 74), Becchio. Subs (not used): Martin, Crowe, Ephraim, Grella, Kandol.

Saints: Bialkowski, Thomas (Gobern 85), Perry, Jaidi, Harding, James, Hammond, Papa Waigo (Antonio 78), Lallana, Lambert, Connolly (Trotman 90). Subs (not used): Davis, Mills, Wotton, Mellis.

Referee: Mr. N. Miller (Tyne & Wear)

Attendance: 25, 948

Wayne Thomas returned to the side at right back as Morgan Schneiderlin missed out through injury. Lloyd James moved into midfield alongside skipper Dean Hammond whilst David Connolly started up front with Lambert and Radhi Jaidi came back to partner Chris Perry in the centre of defence.

There was also a place for goalkeeper Kelvin Davis, who was fit enough to take a place amongst the substitutes after overcoming a groin injury.

Saints in their blue and yellow strip, kicked off defending the end housing the fine travelling support in the corner of the South Stand, whilst a firm pitch continued to show a small coverage of snow down the centre with the rest of the playing surface largely clear.

An open start to the game saw both sides show a willingness to get forward often with Lallana and Harding combining well on the left hand side to win the first corner of the match. It was the hosts who drew the first shot at goal though, as Beckford put Bialkowski at full stretch from just outside the area with a low strike.

Jaidi and Perry marshalled Beckford and Becchio closely as Simon Grayson's side regularly searched for an opening through their front men. Argentine Becchio headed a 21st minute corner wide of the near post before Lallana picked up the first booking of the game for a shirt tug on Jon Howson in front of the dugouts.

Both sides struggled to take a hold of the game with chances generally coming from counter-attacks. Becchio fired over before Lambert struck an effort from distance which failed to trouble Ankergren.

Seven minutes before the break Becchio went close again as he firmly headed Robert Snodgrass' cross narrowly over the frame of Bialkowski's goal as the hosts continued to stretch the Saints backline. Beckford had two more chances inside the area which couldn't yield a goal, the latter of which looped over the bar as he continued to be frustrated.

Alan Pardew's side replied with a well worked opportunity at the other end with Lallana supplying Hammond for a shot on the edge of the area which the midfielder blazed wide just before the half's end.

Half Time: Leeds 0-0 Saints

Straight from the re-start, Bialkowski produced a terrific one handed save to deny Jon Howson's well struck effort from ten yards as Leeds immediately set about their task. The resulting short corner saw Neil Kilkenny flash a dangerous low ball a long the six yard box which fortunately evaded everyone.

Lambert and Kisnorbo both earned cautions from referee Nigel Miller as the two confronted one another off the ball as the flow of the game remained disjointed.

The atmosphere inside Elland Road went up another notch as the hosts stepped up their search for goal. Howson cut inside from the left on 65 minutes and bent a low ball towards the far corner which Beckford tried to divert home but couldn't get a touch on the ball as it trickled wide of the far post.

Saints came back into the game as they continued to soak up the pressure at the back. Lloyd James was denied with a firm shot by a firm block by Doyle.

After a substitution that saw striker Beckford replaced by Max Gradel which was greeted by cheers of approval from the home supporters, Leeds made the breakthrough.

Hughes found Snodgrass in space on the left hand side and the midfielder arched a measured effort into the top right of Bialkowski's goal to make it 1-0.

Alan Pardew introduced Michail Antonio for Papa Waigo inside the last fifteen minutes before Oscar Gobern replaced Wayne Thomas as Saints sought another late goal on the back of Tuesday night's success over Norwich in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

The switch nearly bore fruit as Gobern headed James' corner wide just before four minutes of stoppage time were added on, during which time Neal Trotman replaced Connolly up front as the visitors maintained their push for an equaliser.

It almost arrived deep into added on time, as Lambert forced a way through but couldn't find the target as his effort squirmed across the face of goal just after Antonio had been brought down inside the area. Harding also fired wide with the last kick of the match following a corner that 'keeper Bialkowski came up for, leaving Saints to taste defeat for the first time in eight games.

Full Time: Leeds 1-0 Saints