There was a lot of hope and bluster amongst the Saints fan base, but ultimately the bubble burst and this performance was no better or worse than any of the previous 23 games played in the Premier League under what is now our third manager of the season.
This was always going to be a scrappy game and when it was announced that it would be an unchanged starting line up no one was too disappointed, but disappointment would soon come as Saints put in a nervy performance that saw them concede the only goal of the game with 13 minutes left, literally the only time in the game when either side looked like scoring.
Of course this was always going to be different than the trip to Chelsea, Leeds wanted this game and had a crowd behind them that roared them and their new manager on from the start rather than as Chelsea had a team of talented but disinterested players and a silent crowd.
It seemed that Saints were nervous, they didn't want to commit to too much going forward for fear of getting caught on the break, there wasn't the playing without fear that they showed at Stamford Bridge.
The winning goal when it came saw Saints switch off and allow Leeds to score a goal that they really shouldn't have been allowed, it started right by the corner flag, we had them penned in by two players, but somehow allowed their man to lay a little ball through, that found Ibrahima Diallo caught napping and with two men to mark, the shot was hardly fearsome, but it still went in and Gavin Bazunu has to take some blame here, he really should have done better, in his defence it was poorly hit which deceived him and it bobbled, but it should have been saved.
We never looked like coming back from it, Leeds and their fans were making sure of that.
So where did it go wrong ?
I don't blame the tactics as mentioned Leeds only looked like scoring once aside from an effort in the final 45 seconds of injury time, up to the goal without looking brilliant we looked mainly in control and with some timely substitutions we seemed set to step up the pace, up to the goal things were going to plan to a degree.
So who is to blame, in truth this season the players in the main aside from the usual scapegoats have got away relatively easy, in the first third of the season it was easy to blame Ralph Hasenhuttl, it was also easy to blame the failure to land a forward in the summer transfer window.
In the second part of the season Nathan Jones got the entire blame, even when it wasn't his fault in that we were giving away free headers left right and centre.
Now though the excuses have run out, kit is time to stop pointing the finger and it is time for the players themselves to step up to the plate.
I don't blame any individuals for this, the goal was not the error of one man, at least four players were found wanting.
Gavin Bazunu got a bit of stick on social media and yes he should have done better, but this wasn't the worst goal I have seen conceded over the past few years and he was not helped by his defence.
We have to stick with Bazunu if only for the fact that we have very little other choice and he is still the best option.
Some are calling for Alex McCarthy, but they forget that he was not the man for the job last season either, no disrespect to him, but he has barely played this season, just two league cup games and in the past 15 months he has since getting injured against Brighton he has played just twice in the Premier League conceding 6 goals in the process.
Some say desperate times call for desperate measures, but they also call for calm and composure, I want to see Ruben Selles give us that rather than the scattergun approach that Nathan Jones employed with panic at every turn.
Not the greatest day in the life of Saints up at Elland Road, but the season is not yet lost, time for the players to step up to the plate and win some games of football, sides that get relegated sink to the bottom as they believe they are finished long before the season ends.
Those that stay up as we did on several occasions back in the 1990's did so because they refused to believe they were finished and battled their socks off backed by the supporters, it wasn't the easy route that some would have you believe, but we stuck to the task even when we suffered some bad defeats.
We will find out now if the players have the heart to do just this.