David O'Leary will be hoping that we can continue our recent good run against Derby, when we take on the Rams at Pride Park on Sunday afternoon.

Batty and Bridges both face late fitness tests, however Michael is thought to be in with a good chance of playing. Unfortunately, Batty is only 60-40 at the moment and it may be that the Leeds management team won't want to take a risk on him - with so many important games on the horizon.

Of course, Radebe returns to the centre of defence, which is a massive boost. Duberry will make way for him, after deputising on Thursday evening.

We need to win if we want to regain top spot. A draw will not be enough to take us above Manchester United and Arsenal.

For Derby, Jim Smith will be hoping to give Kinkladze his home debut and also introduce new signing Craig Burley to the Pride Park faithful.

It was a game we had to win to go back to the top of the Premiership table - and a game we dominated. However, for the second week in a row, we had to wait until stoppage time for the winner - with Ian Harte slotting away a penalty to give us a deserved 1-0 win.

As expected, Radebe returned to the centre of defence, Bridges passed a late fitness test but Batty didn't make it. Huckerby was given a rare start up front in preference to Alan Smith, who was on the bench.

The game started at a frantic pace, with most of our good work - as always - coming down the left flank. Huckerby, in particular posed a constant threat.

A sign of our dominance was that we managed to force seven corners throughout the first half with the home team unable to manage a single one. Unfortunately for us, the delivery on some of these set pieces wasn't the best.

The pace of new signing Kinkladze, Burton and Sturridge offered some hope for Derby but Radebe and Woodgate marshalled the home side's strike force comfortably throughout the opening half.

From the half way stage of the first half, we picked up the tempo and dominated matters, creating several good opportunities.

On the half hour mark, Huckerby picked up the ball inside his own half and just sprinted at the heart of the Derby defence, unleashing a right foot shot from a tight angle. Then, moments later, a low right footer from Bridges was easily saved by Poum and a drive from Bakke was deflected just past the post, for yet another United corner.

Probably the best opportunity of the half came on 36 minutes, with Bridges turning well to force an excellent save from the Derby keeper, then as the ball rebounded from his grasp, Bakke and Bowyer got slightly in each other's way - and the chance slipped by.

David O'Leary would certainly have been the happier of the two managers as the half time whistle blew.

Just two minutes after the restart, McPhail found Kewell superbly who went on a fantastic run but just missed the far post with his drive. Then moments later, Harte's corner found Kewell whose looping header went only inches over the bar.

We were completely dominating the game at this stage yet there was a warning in the tenth minute when Kinkladze forced a good save from Martyn, after a fine Derby move. Then Burley too also had an opportunity.

On the half hour mark, with the ball bobbling in the Derby area, Kewell hit a screaming volley which clipped the crossbar. We were camped out in the Derby area but had nothing to show for all our efforts. The home team were defending deeper than ever and proving highly frustrating, much as they did in the opening game of the season, at Elland Road. Our fluency started to suffer as Derby's midfield started to play a more prominent part in the game. Time was ticking away and a goalless draw seemed inevitable.

Then deep into stoppage time, Kewell - who had been a constant menace to the home team's defence all afternoon - was brought down in the box and referee Alcock pointed to the spot. For the second consecutive Premiership match, we had a chance to win the game in injury time. Up stepped Ian Harte to hammer the ball past Poum. The United supporters were delirious as the Rams supporters headed out of the ground. Within seconds of the restart, the whistle went for full time. That's how close it was!

Lucky Leeds? Well, it was a game we dominated and should have won...but we do seem to be "getting out of jail" with surprising regularity of late. A win today was essential, however, with a punishing schedule approaching.

United Star Man: Harry Kewell