Leeds winger James Milner earned himself a place in the record books to strengthen manager Terry Venables' hold on his position at Elland Road.

Milner overshadowed Sunderland's own local hero in Michael Proctor, while denying Howard Wilkinson victory over his old club as Leeds remarkably snatched three points from the Stadium of Light courtesy of a Robbie Fowler penalty.

When Everton's rising star Wayne Rooney became the Premier League's youngest scorer at the age of 16 years 361 days in October with a spectacular winner to end Arsenal's long unbeaten run in October, it appeared a mark which would stand for some time.

Few people then would have put money on such a record being beaten just over two months later, but Milner can now lay claim to the honour, bagging the equaliser nine days before his 17th birthday at 16 years 357 days.

With rumours circulating regarding the possible of arrival of Celtic manager Martin O'Neill, either some time next month or in the summer, this latest Leeds triumph will serve as a welcome tonic for Venables.

It is now seven points out of nine in the last three games for Leeds, but Sunderland will reflect on a game they should have comfortably won, only to end up with nothing and keep them firmly entrenched in the relegation mire.

Kevin Phillips, who scored twice in Saturday's 2-2 draw at West Brom on Saturday to salvage a point for the Black Cats, will wonder more than most how he was not on the scoresheet again as a catalogue of chances went begging.

After Phillips had curled over the bar the game's opening chance in the fifth minute, Leeds should have taken the lead soon after.

Harry Kewell was given a clear sight of goal courtesy of an incisive pass from Alan Smith back on the right wing, with Eirik Bakke restored to the centre after serving a one-match suspension.

But Kewell, with nine goals to his credit this season, could only drill his shot at a grateful Jurgen Macho as Sunderland were let off the hook.

Kewell then had another chance on the quarter-hour mark, but this time his left-foot drive bound for Macho's bottom-left corner, was fortuitously deflected over the bar off a covering Phil Babb.

Sunderland were then a whisker away from taking an 18th minute lead as a break out of their own area led to Kevin Kilbane foraging down the left.

Kilbane's chipped-in cross to Phillips on the far edge of the six-yard box led to a looping header which had Paul Robinson beaten, only for it to bounce off the top of the bar and onto the net.

An Ian Harte free-kick and edge-of-the-area shots from Jason Wilcox and Mark Viduka, the latter restored to the starting line-up ahead of Fowler, failed to seriously trouble Macho at a time when Leeds were looking the more creative side.

But it was Sunderland who converted the next chance of the game 12 minutes from the break, with Phillips whipping in a right-cross from the left, finding Proctor for a crisp header beyond Robinson and off the underside of the bar for his second goal in three matches.

To add to Sunderland's impetus and Leeds' woe, the visitors lost the influential Smith immediately as the 22-year-old had failed to shake off a knock sustained a few minutes earlier.

With Leeds now looking ragged they could easily have been two adrift at the break as Phillips was sent racing clear down the right.

Although with only Robinson to beat, the angle was tight, but the shot was firm and on-target, forcing a smart save from the 23-year-old low down to his, with Danny Mills clearing away the ensuing danger.

Sunderland continued to pour forward after the break and with two minutes of the restart they spurned a double chance to extend their lead, although credit must go to Robinson and Mills.

Harte's ball inside just in front of his own 18-yard area was shocking, allowing Phillips another clear sight of goal, but Robinson brilliantly saved low to his left.

The rebound then fell to Proctor, but from point-blank range Mills blocked superbly as Leeds breathed again, equalising soon after through Milner as he slid home a Wilcox cross from six yards.

Sunderland then took control of the game as Leeds escaped again in the following 10 minutes, initially in a scramble as the ball pinged around the United area, only for the Whites' goal to lead a charmed life.

Phillips then had two more chances, but the alertness of Robinson saved Leeds as the 23-year-old raced off his line to block virtually at the feet of the frustrated forward.

It was clearly one of those days for Phillips for in the 70th minute he latched onto a ball which bounced over substitute Michael Duberry, but this time his shot was skewed wide of the left-hand post.

After Viduka had forced a fine save from Macho in the 74th minute, he was then soon replaced by Fowler and within moments he was scoring the winner from the spot after Proctor had brought down Kewell from behind.

Fowler, who missed a penalty in last season's Boxing Day clash at Bolton when he also scored a hat-trick, made no mistake this time as he sent Macho the wrong way.

This time, after conceding a goal in the final two minutes of a match six times this season, Leeds held on for the win.

Teams:

Sunderland Macho, Gray, Babb, Craddock, Wright, Kilbane, Thirlwell (McCartney 82), McCann, Proctor (Stewart 82), Phillips, Flo (Kyle 82).

Subs Not Used: Ingham, Bjorklund.

Goals: Proctor 34.

Leeds Robinson, Kelly, Lucic, Mills, Harte (Duberry 58), Smith (Milner 36), Bakke, Okon, Wilcox, Viduka (Fowler 77), Kewell.

Subs Not Used: Martyn, Seth Johnson.

Booked: Viduka.

Goals: Milner 51, Fowler 80 pen.

Att: 44,029

Ref: M Dean (Wirral).