A round-up of what the national media are reporting after Leeds United ran out 1-0 winners over Southampton at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon.
'Patient, controlled and deliberate'
Ian Whittell wrote in the Daily Telegraph: "Elland Road rose in raucous fashion to celebrate a winning start to the reign of “flexible” manager Javi Gracia but it will take several other such occasions if the former Watford man is to ultimately guide Leeds to safety....
"Firpo’s goal was, obviously, crucial but so, too, was the approach Gracia adopted with a team that showed just one change from the last line-up selected by caretaker Skubala for his final match, the defeat at Everton last week.
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"Typically, Elland Road has been considered a difficult away fixture because of a hostile crowd that urges on their players to a frantic, Charge of the Light Brigade style of play. All too often that ended in frustration, both on the pitch and in the stands, as Leeds ran out of energy and ideas and conceded on the counter-attack.
"Not against Southampton. Leeds were patient, controlled and deliberate in their approach and, even in the build-up to their goal, unhurried and composed."
'A more measured approach'
Louise Taylor penned in the Guardian : " As they waited for the teams to be announced Leeds fans debated whether their new manager, Javi Gracia, should drop Junior Firpo.
"Not everyone appeared delighted when Jesse Marsch’s successor opted to stick with the left-back but, in the 77th minute, Gracia’s faith was rewarded when Firpo scored his first Premier League goal.
"It was a fine finish yet Gracia, back in the technical area after an eight month sabbatical following his sacking by the Qatari champions, Al Sadd, also deserves credit for the game-changing introduction of Crysencio Summerville who helped create Firpo’s precious strike...
"Gracia had suggested he was open to modifying the aggressive, high intensity, pressing game Leeds adopted under Marcelo Bielsa and retained by Marsch and, sure enough, they played at a slightly slower tempo with a more measured approach.
"Gracia’s players interspersed rapid changes of pace with prolonged bouts of patient passing. Significantly, they also used the flanks a little more than under Marsch, whose teams tended to be extremely narrow."
'Delicious irony'
Joe Bernstein wrote in the Daily Mail : "There was a sense of justice in Leeds United winning their first match under new manager Javi Gracia to climb out of the relegation zone.
"Southampton, the only team below them at the start of play, had a not very subtle plan to spoil the game with players going down “injured”, delaying goal-kicks to tie bootlaces and even coming out late for the second half.
"Once Junior Firpo had broken the deadlock after 77 minutes – his strike beating goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu despite lacking power - the visitors suddenly found a new urgency.
"And there was delicious irony in Leeds striker Patrick Bamford departing so slowly when he was substituted that Southampton’s Romeu Lavia was booked for harassing his opponent and telling him to hurry up.
"This was altogether scrappier and riddled with tension. But the celebrations at the final whistle underlined the importance. There were smiles, hugs and goalkeeper Illan Meslier conducting the thousands of fans who stayed behind the to celebrate.
"Gracia, chosen for this rescue mission because of his previous work at Watford, was satisfied both with the points and clean sheet given Leeds’ reputation for being leaky under Marcelo Bielsa and Marsch...
"Gracia was able to witness at full-time a bouncing Elland Road who now believe they can be in the top flight next season."
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