It was a game we just couldn't afford to lose! Yet thanks to Andy Cole's solitary 52nd minute strike, that's exactly what has happened. We now find ourselves on a level playing field with our closest rivals in terms of games played - yet they have a cushion of six points, with just thirteen games remaining. On the day, though, things could and should have turned out very differently...

The day began bizarrely when, driving down to Elland Road for a ludicrously early start, I heard on Radio 5 that, following a bust up between Ferguson and Beckham, the latter would not be playing any part in today's proceedings. What a bonus! Despite the fact that he is universally despised amongst fans of the Whites, even his worst enemies wouldn't deny the fact that, with the possible exception of Keane, he is their most influential player. Without him, surely our chances would be enhanced...but what about all the carefully choreographed abuse that had been lovingly prepared for his arrival?

The Leeds' team news was pretty much as expected. Batty, of course, was never going to be ready to return. Thankfully, Radebe was able to return to the centre of defence but both McPhail and Bridges failed late fitness tests.

The game kicked off as expected, at a typically frenetic pace. However, unfortunately for us, it was the visitors who made the most determined start, forcing Martyn into a couple of early saves.

Our first opening came from an Ian Harte free kick. Bosnich appeared to have his right post covered but Harte's powerful low drive had him scrambling to parry it away. Luckily, for the Reds, Silvestre was able to clear away the rebound from danger.

On 20 minutes, a neat header by Smithy sent Kewell away. He was dragged down by Irwin who was booked for his trouble. Then, from the free kick, Harte again forced a good save from the United keeper - as he dived to his left to turn his effort round the post.

Harte was proving to be our biggest goalscoring threat and so it proved again on the half hour mark. This time, though, he could only hit his first free kick against the Manchester wall. As the ball rebounded back to him, he hit it first time but could not direct it away from the body of Bosnich.

By now, we had made up for our slow start and were starting to dominate the game. Kewell, as always, was proving a constant thorn in the Reds' defence and Smithy was giving Stam a torrid time, which eventually resulted in the big Dutchman receiving a yellow card, after the third infringement against the United attacker.

Man United had offered very little in the opening forty five minutes but, worryingly, yet again we had failed to fully capitalise on some good openings in front of goal, thwarted in particular by some good work from Bosnich. Surely Manchester would step up a gear after the break.

And so it was to prove. However, in truth, we still made the better start in the opening five minutes of the second period. Then, on 52 minutes, disaster struck. Up until this point Cole had barely put a foot right and had offered very little threat to Martyn in the Leeds goal. However, all this changed in one flash of inspiration, as he got the better of radebe - who was looking far from 100% fit on the afternoon - and lobbed the onrushing Leeds keeper for the opening - and as it turned out only - goal of the encounter.

Suddenly our defence was all over the place and within sixty seconds we could quite easily have gone two goals down, with Keane hitting Martyn's left post, after the ball had deflected off the Leeds' keeper. Could this be the moment of good fortune we had been looking for?

As the half progressed, Manchester played a much more controlled game than they had in the opening period. However, yet again we continued to create the better scoring opportunities - mostly from dead ball situations.

Ian Harte forced another excellent save from Bosnich. This time his screaming effort looked destined for the top right hand corner but the Aussie managed to palm it away for a corner. Then, from a Harte corner, Bakke's powerful header hit the crossbar. It looked like it was going to be one of those days.

Half way through the second half, we witnessed two sides of Harry. Firstly, he was unnecessarily booked for a petulant outburst when he threw the ball down in disgust. However, one could understand his frustration as he appeared to be receiving very little protection from referee Mr Jones.

Then, moments later we witnessed the majesty of the Aussie in full flight. He took on four defenders in a mazy dribble across the field before hitting a cross (or was it a shot?) across the face of goal, which was only just in front of Bowyer who was rushing in on goal. Moments later, he skinned the right back again to send over a cross which was deflected onto the crossbar and out for a corner.

The real turning point of the afternoon, though, came with ten minutes remaining. Wilcox got the better of Neville and hit a shot towards goal. Bosnich for once made a bit of a fumble and the ball fell into the path of Smithy. He hit a shot which crashed against Bosnich's left hand post but came out straight to Bowyer in front of goal. Lee had the whole of the net at his mercy from just six yards out. 999 times out of a thousand, he would have side footed the ball into the back of the net but, much to the amusement of the Scum fans who were directly behind Bosnich's goal, he skied the ball well over the crossbar. It was a truly horrible miss which even the other Leeds player looked mystified about. If ever there was a sign that we were destined to get nothing from this particular game, then this was it.

As the final whistle blew, the Leeds supporters within the ground applauded their team from the field. However, it could not hide a huge sense of disappointment that we had let a great opportunity slip. Manchester were not world beaters this afternoon and we deserved to get something out of the match. However, it was not to be and so we fall six points behind them, with only thirteen games to play.

United Star Man: Harry Kewell