Leeds United 0 Manchester United 1
Saturday 18th October
Elland Road, Leeds
The fans may have thrown all that they could at the Reds, but it wasn't enough to stop them marching on to another three points.
The kick-off was early, at twelve noon, in an attempt to keep the fans cool and calm. They may have been calm, and less inebriated, but they still had a few words, or screams, ready for Leeds' old-boy Rio. The fans still see him as a traitor, despite this being his third trip over the Pennines.
It was Manchester United that had the best of the first-half. With Giggs taken ill on the eve of the game, the left-winger role fell at Cristiano Ronaldo's feet. His now-famous mazy runs were enough to get the Leeds fans and defenders riled.
On just five minutes, Ronaldo swept into the box, only to be taken down by the hard-working Gary Kelly. It was with disbelief that he looked at referee Graham Poll, who waved play on.
Another ten minutes later, and Ronaldo was into the box again, with Kelly again persuing him. Despite there being contact, Ronaldo's fall to the ground was rewarded with a yellow card for diving.
As the half drew to a close, the Reds camped outside the Leeds box, passing the ball, but never picking out the man or the pass that would lead to a goal. Leeds were skating on thin ice.
Peter Reid obviously had a few harsh words to the Leeds players, because they all came out fighting, and even managed to put together a few attacks at the start of the second-half, forcing Man United to sit back and take the pressure.
It was Pennant who had the clearest chance for Leeds. The ball was won by Viduka, and played into the path of the youngster on loan from Arsenal. His shot was sliced, and was a let-off for the Reds.
Van Nistelrooy created two openings reasonable chances from nothing later in the half, controlling the ball beautifully before firstly chipping the ball over the keeper, and the bar, and then firing tamely into Robinson's arms.
Scholes also had a venomous shot that the keeper did well to keep out, before Olembe cleared off the line from Ruud's free-kick.
With the game just 10 minutes away from a draw, United broke the deadlock, with van Nistelrooy and Keane swapping jobs. It was van Nistelrooy who chased the ball and won it for the Reds in midfield. He passed to Gary Neville, who fired the ball into the box. Keane was waiting, predator-like, to head home at the back post.
Scholes later hit the underside of the bar, but the game was won by then anyway, with Leeds failing to put together much of a threat for an equaliser. Rio came through the test well especially with the drugs test turmoil still unresolved, but it was Keane who was the hero of the day, again.
Leeds: Robinson, Kelly, Camara, Matteo, Olembe, Pennant (Lennon 85), Batty, Seth Johnson, Milner (Sakho 63), Viduka (Bridges 68), Smith.
Subs Not Used: Carson, Roque Junior.
Booked: Pennant, Batty, Smith, Seth Johnson.
Man Utd: Howard, Gary Neville, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Fortune (O'Shea 40), Fletcher (Forlan 60), Keane, Phil Neville, Ronaldo (Butt 90), Scholes, Van Nistelrooy.
Subs Not Used: Carroll, Djemba-Djemba.
Booked: Ronaldo.
Attendance: 40,153
Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).