NEEDS REWORDING Leeds United again left Old Trafford defeated, after a late show by the treble champions and two goals by Dwight Yorke dashed any hopes of at least a draw.

It was scant reward for David O'Leary's side, upset by an early injury to Michael Bridges, who up until 15 minutes from the end had been worthy of a point and had a shot from Harry Kewell in the second half not come back of the post and crept in instead, the finish could have gone Leeds' way.

Leeds boss David O'Leary sprang another team selection surprise, handing an immediate United debut to new signing Darren Huckerby, with David Hopkin, the unlucky one to be relegated to the substitute bench.

Leeds came out firing on all cylinders, with Kewell, just behind Huckerby and Bridges in a free role, unsettling the Reds with his well timed runs.

The Whites survived an early scare on four minutes when Neville's cross from the right found Giggs at the far post, but his shot hit Michael Duberry and spun out to safety.

Mills had a cross shot sail just over the cross bar with Bosnich back peddling, before Lee Bowyer's volley from Mills' cutback was blocked. Then on 15 minutes, good work down the left by Kewell found Bowyer on the edge of the area, but he curled his shot just wide of the right upright.

Andy Cole, who'd been booked for not retreating at a free kick, had a shot blocked for Manchester United and then appeared to round Nigel Martyn and fall inside the area, but referee Neale Barry was not interested.

Kewell ran at the Manchester rearguard at every opportunity and on one occasion he cut in from the left, dragged the ball back, before firing inches over with the outside of his left foot.

Leeds suffered a setback when midweek hat-trick hero Michael Bridges had to go off on 20 minutes, still suffering from a knock on the heel from the first minute after a challenge by Jap Stam, but the Reds also lost keeper Mark Bosnich minutes later with a leg injury and he was replaced by Van der Gouw.

David Hopkin, on for Bridges shot over, as did Kewell again from just outside the area with the Reds defence back peddling.

Just after the half hour Nigel Martyn rescued Leeds, when he saved at point blank range from Paul Scoles, as Yorke's cross found him unmarked inside the area, and Irwin blasted over from six yards when the danger was not cleared by Leeds.

A surging run down the left by Harry Kewell, who'd just recovered from a knock on the ankle, saw the Aussie wizard cut the ball back again to Lee Bowyer, but again the shot from the England U-21 international was blocked.

Martyn save at the feet of Cole from a outswinging cross by Ryan Giggs, before a deep free kick by Ian Harte was headed down by Danny Mills and fell invitingly for Harry Kewell, but his shot on the turn was wide.

Moments before the interval Ryan Giggs was booked for a foul on Bowyer, but Leeds were saved by a woeful piece of finishing by David Beckham, who found himself clear when Radebe's header spun off his head inside the area, but the England international shot high over Martyn's bar to ensure it was goaless at half time.

Manchester United started the second period in a much more positive mood and had Leeds on the retreat for the opening skirmishes, with Roy Keane to the fore.

It was 20 minutes into the half before the first real chance fell to Andy Cole. He sped into the Leeds area down the right past Jonny Woodgate, but his cross was well cut out by Lucas Radebe and the chance was gone.

Kewell jinked his way to the edge of the Reds area only to disappointingly cross behind and then, after Radebe put the Aussie clear on 71 minutes following a mistake by Irwin, he watched agonisingly on ,as his right foot shot came back off the post and was cleared by Berg.

Great work on the right by Andy Cole almost fashioned a chance for Giggs before Michael Dubery rescued Leeds on 70 minutes, when he headed, over with ball looking as it might drop over Martyn and into the net from Gigg's header.

Kewell and Huckerby both tested Van der Gouw from outside the area and with 10 minutes, left David O'Leary brought on Austrian defender Martin Hiden for his first apperance since he injured his cruciate ligament at Old Trafford nine months ago.

The change only prompted the Manchester opener, as Neville found space on the right and his firm cross was glanced home off his head by Dwight Yorke, giving Nigel Martyn no chance.

Then Yorke made the game safe. As the rain lashed down, he stole infont of the Leeds defence to head Beckham's free kick down from the left into the corner of the net past Martyn.

A late chance fell to Bowyer fashioned by Kewell, but Van der Gouw saved well and as the game finished in a thunderstorm, Leeds will have felt hard done by that they left Old Trafford with nothing, after an encouraging display marred by injuries, which in the end cost them the points.