A lot of water has passed under our proverbial football bridges (no pun intended!) since the two teams last met, at Roker Park, on February 22, 1997. The match finished with a 1-0 win to United, Rod Wallace scoring the game's only goal. Defeat for Sunderland accelerated their free-fall, which saw their relatively comfortable mid table position at Christmas disintegrate to eventual relegation, on the final day of the season. Previously, Leeds had won the Elland Road fixture convincingly - goals by Sharpe, Deane and Ford resulting in a 3-0 victory. The goalscorers mentioned here give a clear indication of the revolution that has taken place at Elland Road over the last twelve months. Of the eleven players who started the fixture at Elland Road, only three (Martyn, Radebe and Harte) are likely to play this time round.

Back to the present, Saturday's game gives us an opportunity to get back to winning ways, following the disappointment of Old Trafford. Of course, our last home game saw Jim Smith's Derby side arrive, determined to shut up shot and frustrate us throughout the ninety minutes - and you can be sure that Peter Reid's team will do exactly the same - packing the midfield and probably only playing Phillips up front. Anyone who watched their home game against Arsenal, last Saturday, will know that they can frustrate the very best, highly effectively.

Leeds have few selection worries, other than a possible problem up front, with both Bridges and Smith still suffering from niggling injuries. Smith has not played since being replaced against Derby, whilst Bridges was taken off during the first half, at Old Trafford. However, both are likely to be in contention for a place today - and Bridges, in particular, will be desperate to make a start against his former club. Of course, Darren Huckerby will also have a say in O'Leary's plans for his attacking formation.

A predictably hard fought battle, against a Sunderland team restricted to ten men throughout the entire second half, eventually resulted in a 2-1 victory to United, thanks to goals from Lee Bowyer and Danny Mills.

It came as absolutely no surprise that Sunderland arrived with the aim of earning a point. Reid packed his midfield, playing only Phillips up front, as a lone striker - and the manager's orders were clearly to disrupt Leeds' passing game as early as possible.

This became abundantly clear from as early as 20 seconds when the Mackem's central defender, Butler, scythed down Huckerby, to gain one of the quickest yellow cards of the Premiership campaign. Unfortunately, this marked out Sunderland's philosophy for the entire match - at the end of which they would have six players booked with another receiving his marching orders.

The first half began amidst another electric atmosphere - with Elland Road once more packed almost to capacity. The noise was added to by the fanatical Sunderland supporters who, decked out - almost to a man - in their red and white, packed the South Stand.

As in the previous home game, against Derby, it was the home team who were the quickest to settle - although the home supporters knew only too well that it would be another hard battle to break down the Sunderland midfield and defence. Huckerby, making his home debut, started the half extremely promisingly, with his characteristic hard running and mazy dribbles soon in evidence. Within the first twenty minutes, he created two useful opportunities. Firstly, earning a free kick which was headed over the bar by Mills, then feeding Kewell with a clever back heel. However, as appears to be the case at the moment, the Australian skewed his shot wide of the post.

Despite putting together a few passing moves across their midfield, Sunderland offered the United defence very few problems during the opening half. However, on 25 minutes, Summerbee saw a screaming free kick fly millimeters over the bar. Most of the Leeds supporters within the stadium failed to see Martyn make any contact with the ball but, obviously, Mr Alcock had much better eyesight than us - as a corner was given. This marked a ten minute period where the officials were to make a series of decisions which would baffle and frustrate the home supporters.

Just after the half hour mark, Huckerby had a golden opportunity to mark his Elland Road debut with a goal. The chance was similar to Kewell's miss against Derby, in so far as it was handed to the attacker on a plate, following a suicidal defensive mistake, in this case by Sunderland new boy, Helmer. His wayward back pass left Huckerby one on one with Sorensen. Unfortunately, though, he just allowed the ball to run a little too far ahead and the keeper managed to save bravely at Huckerby's feet.

With just over ten minutes of the first half remaining came the most controversial moment of the match. Bowyer's rasping shot was parried away by Sorensen, only to be slotted away by Bridges. A headline-writer's dream, the Leeds supporters were delirious. Unbelievably, though, the linesman had flagged for offside. What looked like a highly dubious decision appeared to be backed up by the big screen, which further fuelled the Leeds fans' anger - leading to the usual chant of "You don't know hat you're doing!" ringing round the stadium.

As if this apparent injustice wasn't hard enough to stomach, just moments later Sunderland - who had offered virtually nothing in an attacking sense for the previous 35 minutes - found themselves in the lead. Phillips, their only real threat, managed to get himself clear of Radebe (for the only time in the game). At first glance, their appeared to be very little contact made between the two players, as the Sunderland player threw himself theatrically to the ground: the cries of "Cheat! Cheat!" ringing in his ears. However, with admirable coolness he stepped up to slot the penalty past the despairing reach of Martyn.

Still, though, an event packed first half was not over. Whereas Sunderland should now have been assuming control, their over physical approach was to cost them dear. Alex Rae, a player not noted for his self control, had already been booked earlier in the half. However, this did not appear to be paramount in his mind as he chopped down Lee Bowyer needlessly in the 40th minute. The referee let play continue but then pulled the Sunderland midfielder to one side, to produce a red card.

Reid and his players must have known that it would be an uphill struggle in the second half - and so it proved to be the case, with United mounting an endless series of attacking forays on the Sunderland goal. Yet, despite all our possession and attacking flair it did start to look like this might be a frustrating afternoon. This feeling intensified when, after five minutes of the second period, Hopkin found himself in space with just Sorensen to beat - albeit at a tight angle. The best option might have been to square the ball to Bridges, who would surely have tapped the ball home. However, the Scottish midfielder attempted to curl the ball round the keeper - unfortunately seeing his effort fly wide of goal. The Leeds supporters knew that we couldn't keep on wasting golden opportunities like this, all afternoon.

However, just minutes later, our nerves were calmed a little, with a deserved equaliser. The ever dangerous Huckerby made good progress down the left flank, squaring the ball for Kewell, whose shot rebounded off a defender to the edge of the area. Bowyer, though, pounced on the second opportunity, slotting the ball home low to Sorensen's left. The ground erupted.

There was a feeling now that it was only a matter of time before we got the winner. However, such was the woeful state of finishing all afternoon, that we could take nothing for granted. Typically, when our second goal did arrive, it would be in an extremely scrappy fashion. After a goalmouth scramble which saw both Huckerby and Hopkin with chances to score, the ball fell to Mills' feet, who tapped the ball in from close range. The relief around Elland Road was tangible yet the celebrations were muted slightly by anxious looks across at the linesman. After earlier inadequacies, surely this couldn't be disallowed too. Thankfully, this proved not to be the case.

We now had nineteen minutes to add to our advantage yet, despite all our possession, 2-1 is still a very fragile lead. Opportunities continued to flow yet still we didn't add to our tally. Smith, on for Bridges, had yet another goal disallowed, Hopkin and Bowyer had more chances. Yet, the most breathtaking moment came with ten minutes to go, when Harte unleashed a screaming drive from over 20 yards, which crashed off the bar.

With just five minutes remaining, Huckerby again wreaked more havoc in the Sunderland defence and, having been dragged down, was awarded a penalty. Who would take it? Harte would appear to be the supporter's choice, despite earlier misses, yet Kewell stepped tentatively forward. His half hearted attempt was easily saved by Sorensen to his right.

Reid's team had been well beaten yet, as he threw on Quinn and Dichio during the late stages, the Leeds supporters still had to endure much biting of nails - especially as Mr Alcock added on a rather puzzling five minutes of injury time. The final whistle was greeted by well deserved applause but much relief - at an extremely hard fought victory.

 United Star Man: Darren Huckerby