TWO quick-fire goals by Mark Viduka and a Robbie Fowler special gave United a 3-0 New Years Day victory over West Ham at Elland Road as they stormed to the top of the Barclaycard Premiership.

Viduka's volley and header inside the first seven minutes gave Leeds a flying stat to 2002 and Fowler's exquisite lob early in the second half made it a bright start to the second half of the season as they grabbed the three points to move two points clear at the top of the table.

David O'Leary's side responded well to some favourable results and a postponement involving al the top title contenders to grab the early 2002 initiative in the championship race.

With injuries still decimating the United squad, David O'Leary named the same team that won 1-0 at Southampton on Saturday meaning midfield roles for Gary Kelly and Alan Smith. West Ham were without Italian striker Paolo di Canio and midfielder Michael Carrick.

In freezing conditions United made a positive start attacking the Revie Stand and took the lead in emphatic style in the third minute. A sweeping move down the right saw Danny Mills play the ball to Robbie Fowler on the edge of the area and when the United striker released Alan Smith on the right, his first time cross was perfect for Mark Viduka to finish with a clinical side-footed volley past an exposed David James in the West Ham goal.

With the Elland Road crowd still celebrating, just two minutes later Mills capitalised on an error to advance down the right and deliver a perfect cross for Viduka again to finish with a powerful five yard header after stealing in front of his marker.

The perfect start was nearly undone when Sinclair pulled back cross from the left was met by Joe Cole who volleyed a foot wide of Nigel Martyn's right hand post from the edge of the area.

But United looked in confident mood after those two early goals and were camped inside the Hammers half for long periods of the first 20 minutes.

Joe Cole fired high over the bar from 20 yards and won three corners midway through the first period but without forcing an effort on goal, although Cole was a constant menace to Leeds with his probing from midfield.

Nigel Martyn was forced to make a save low down from Trevor Sinclair's shot from the edge of the area as the away side enjoyed their best spell.

But Viduka went agonisingly close to completing his hat-trick eight minutes before the interval, denied by a great one handed save by James from the Aussie's overhead kick after great build up play by Lee Bowyer and Rio Ferdinand.

West Ham's keeper the repeated the feat two minutes before the interval this time to deny Alan Smith.

After a low key start to the second half, Leeds again struck early to go three up on 50 minutes.

Mark Viduka and Lee Bowyer were involved, with the United midfielder getting the ball stuck under his feet on the edge of the area, but Robbie Fowler following in saw James off his line and finished superbly with a pinpoint lob over the England keeper into an empty net.

Viduka and Fowler then set up Alan Smith on the right but his 20 yard drive from was superbly turned over by James.

Leeds were now dominant in all quarters and James reacted brilliantly again to beat out Mills powerful right foot shot from 18 yards and the England international made another double save to deny Fowler his second goal of the evening.

But Alan Smith should have made it four when he headed Mills' cross from the right straight at James from only five yards out. The United star was then rather unfortunate to joining Mills and Bowyer in referee Steve Dunn's notebook for an innocuous looking challenge on Cole.

The West Ham midfielder continued to provide the visitor's best moments and his cross from the left gave Christian Dailly a chance to power a header goalwards which Martyn turned over the bar. The resulting corner fell for Defoe but Mills blocked his shot by the left hand upright.

Viduka was again denied the chance to grab his third goal when he was just beaten to Bowyer's cross by Sebastien Schemmel who did well to turn the ball over the bar.

The last ten minutes were a cruise for United who knew they had done the hard work and were in no mood to allow the comebacks afforded to Leicester and Newcastle in recent weeks.

They now turn their attention to the FA Cup and Cardiff sitting proudly at the top of the league.

www.leedsunited.co.uk Man of the Match - Mark Viduka