Leeds' promotion push continued to gather pace after they overcame draw specialists Southampton to claim their third victory from four unbeaten games.

First-half strikes from Rob Hulse and Robbie Blake effectively secured the points for Leeds before they survived an impressive second-half rally from Harry Redknapp's side.

Saints, who arrived at Elland Road having drawn their eight previous league games, can consider themselves unfortunate not to have claimed a record ninth-straight league deadlock.

They responded superbly to going 2-0 down but after 16-year-old prospect Theo Walcott threw his side a lifeline after 25 minutes, they could not fashion an equaliser.

Southampton were missing influential Sweden defender Michael Svensson, while another notable absentee was Dennis Wise, who has been the subject of fresh speculation linking him with Kevin Blackwell's position as Leeds boss.

Wise is a close friend of Elland Road chairman Ken Bates but failed to travel due to a nagging foot injury.

Saints could certainly have used his presence against a Leeds side who wasted no time in establishing a stranglehold on the game during a breathless opening period.

The opening blow arrived when Hulse, who forced Antti Niemi into a fine save after just 45 seconds, claimed his eighth goal of the season with four minutes played.

A short free-kick was touched to Gary Kelly on the right-hand touchline and his deep, flighted delivery was met by Hulse, who planted a firm looping header into the far corner.

Saints were a threat on the counter-attack, however, and the lively pairing of Walcott and Ricardo Fuller refused to allow Leeds to settle.

Walcott, making his first league start for Saints with Brett Ormerod dropped to the bench, should have drawn Southampton level after seven minutes when Fuller's flick sent him scampering clear.

Instead he could only sidefoot a weak, low effort into Neil Sullivan's midriff - and it proved costly as Leeds extended their lead 12 minutes later.

The impressive Hulse, who is proving a key figure in Leeds' promotion push, laid the ball off neatly to Blake from the edge of the box.

The £800,000 summer signing from Birmingham curled in a delightful 20-yard shot which sailed past Niemi and into the far corner.

However, Southampton refused to lie down and die and their spirited response, inspired by skipper Nigel Quashie, saw them hit back after 25 minutes as Walcott atoned for his earlier miss.

A lofted ball from Djamel Belmadi found the teenager in space behind the home defence.

Leeds skipper Paul Butler failed to clear the danger and Walcott pounced on his mistake in a flash, neatly controlling the ball before volleying home a superb shot from just inside the 18-yard box. The livewire striker almost drew Saints level six minutes after the restart but could only watch in agony as his hooked effort beat Sullivan but sailed narrowly wide.

Two minutes later and Blake almost had his second, sending a superb free-kick crashing against an upright after Claus Lundekvam fouled Eddie Lewis 22 yards from goal.

And with 17 minutes remaining, Walcott wasted the opportunity to rescue a point for Saints, blazing wildly over from 12 yards after substitute Kenwyne Jones' shot was palmed out by Sullivan.

Teams

Leeds Sullivan, Kelly, Butler, Gregan (Kilgallon 56), Harding, Richardson (Einarsson 75), Douglas, Derry, Lewis, Blake (Healy 65), Hulse.

Subs Not Used: Bennett, Moore.

Booked: Derry, Douglas.

Goals: Hulse 11, Blake 19.

Southampton Niemi, Cranie, Hajto (Delap 83), Lundekvam, Higginbotham, Belmadi (Kosowski 68), Oakley, Quashie, McCann, Fuller (Jones 75), Walcott.

Subs Not Used: Ormerod, Smith.

Booked: Belmadi, Oakley.

Goals: Walcott 25.

Att: 18,881

Ref: M Jones (Cheshire).