Football: Leeds keep the title race alive

WHEN MANCHESTER United's players turned to Ceefax, after spending Saturday afternoon shopping, going to the races or changing nappies, it must have been quite a shock to see the scoreline: `Middlesbrough 1, Arsenal 6'. A spoiled evening, their thoughts invaded by the disquieting knowledge that, while they had been otherwise occupied in Europe, the Gunners had collected six points, 11 goals and the Premiership lead, surely followed.

Had Dwight Yorke shown the finishing yesterday which has gained him 27 goals this season Arsenal's Sunday night could have been similarly spoiled.

Manchester United were never going to hit six but a win by any degree is a good result at Elland Road these days and, with injury time ticking away, Teddy Sheringham offered Yorke the best opening of the match. Yorke spooned it over Nigel Martyn's bar.

A point gained, or two lost? Alex Ferguson had few doubts. "We would not have settled for this result beforehand. There are still a lot of twists and turns in the title race but this is a good result for Arsenal."

This match represented the toughest test of Manchester United's Premiership run-in and though, as in Turin, their character passed the test, their energy levels did not. While Andy Cole's 23rd goal of the season, after 55 minutes, cancelled out Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's first-half goal and extended their unbeaten run to 26 matches, Manchester United were unable to dislodge Arsenal from the Premiership summit. Their destiny, however, remains in their own hands. Though a point behind they have played a game less and could regain the lead at home to Aston Villa on May Day.

However, an injury crisis is brewing. The length of the list may have something to do with it being international week but not all of the seven unfit players (Ryan Giggs, Jaap Stam, Paul Scholes, Ronny Johnsen, Henning Berg, Andy Cole and Denis Irwin) will face the Villa.

Scholes (knee) and Cole (ankle) have been withdrawn from the England party which leaves Luton Airport this morning for Wednesday's friendly in Hungary. Also out is Jonathon Woodgate, of Leeds, who suffered a foot injury attempting to block Cole's goal. This is a shame because the 19- year-old's polished performance, which utterly eclipsed Yorke, was one of the most impressive elements of the afternoon.

The presence of so many talented British and Irish youngsters was one of the most enjoyable aspects of a game which began well but faded as both sides tired. Twenty of the 27 participants were English, Irish or Welsh and 12 of these were under 25 years old.

The quality of the Leeds contingent, notably Woodgate, Steve McPhail and Australia's Harry Kewell, was one of the main reasons behind David O'Leary's decision, before the game, to sign a new pounds 6m five-year contract as manager of Leeds. He said, "Now I can speak to these yougnsters about new contracts having showed I'm committed to the club myself.'

The dominant presence, at least until Manchester United cut out his supply, was young, gifted and Australian. Kewell, nominated like Smith and the busy Lee Bowyer, for last night's PFA Young Player of the Year Award, took full advantage of Manchester United's makeshift central defence to run at them whenever possible.

With Stam pulling out after aggravating his Achilles injury in the warm- up David May, who had not started in the Premiership this season, was paired with Wes Brown. The partnership inevitably took a while to settle and Leeds should have scored twice in the opening 12 minutes. First Bowyer headed over from Smith's cross then Smith had a shot blocked by Schmeichel from Bowyer's cross.

May was booked for felling Hasselbaink in this period but almost made an impact at the other end as Nigel Martyn just managed to scramble both his shot, and Cole's follow-up, off the line following a corner.

Kewell then worked an opening from which Bowyer shot over, put a header wide himself then set up Smith for a chance he pulled wide. Eventually, after 32 minutes, he created Leeds' goal. Butt, pressurised in midfield, mis-hit a pass to Roy Keane. It ran, instead, to Kewell who sliced though the heart of the Manchester defence before slipping the ball to Hasselbaink who, joyfully, rolled it between Schmeichel's legs.

Either side of the break Smith and Kewell could have put Leeds two up, but, enlivened by Ferguson's half-time chat, the visitors clawed their way back into the game. Yorke, Butt and Yorke again had chances before Keane curled the ball to the far post where, after Butt brought a fine save from Nigel Martyn, Cole won the chase for the rebound.

Woodgate, who lost it, went off and most of the game's interest went with him. Leeds were unable to regain their fluency, Manchester United were simply exhausted. Though Yorke may have replayed his miss in his mind the rest will have slept well last night.

Goals: Hasselbaink (32) 1-0; Cole (55) 1-1.

Leeds United (4-3-3): Martyn; Jones, Woodgate (Wetherall, 58), Radebe, Harte; Bowyer, Batty, McPhail; Hasselbaink (Wijnhard, 86), Smith, Kewell. Substitutes not used: Ribeiro, Halle, Robinson (g).

Manchester United (4-4-2): Schmeichel; G Neville, May, Brown, Irwin (P Neville, 71); Beckham (Scholes, 83), Keane, Butt, Blomqvist (Sheringham, 76); Cole, Yorke. Substitutes not used: Van der Gouw (g), Curtis.

Referee: D Elleray (Harrow).

Booked: Leeds United: Hasselbaink. Manchester United: May, Butt, Keane.

Man of the match: Kewell.

Attendance: 40,255.