PICTURES

WEBMASTER'S COMMENT

"Nicky Butt left it till late to score his first of the season in this game but it was worth it, and it deserved to win any game."

MATCH REPORT

By David Anderson, PA Sport

Nicky Butt picked the perfect time to score his first goal of the season as he settled this fiercely-contested Roses clash at Old Trafford. Leeds' depleted side were on course to claim a well-deserved point against their deadliest rivals until the England midfielder netted a 77th-minute winner to take Manchester second in the Premiership.

The goal will be all the more sweeter for Butt because he has been in and out of the side in recent weeks. He started in right midfield in place of David Beckham, who was rested along with Jesper Blomqvist and Denis Irwin. How Leeds boss David O'Leary would like that luxury and instead he had to make do without the suspended Lee Bowyer and Robert Molenaar and the injured Lucas Radebe.

And O'Leary's plight worsened after 25 minutes when Martin Hiden was stretchered off to be replaced by David Wetherall. Ferguson had told his players he would not tolerate any more under-performing, but his words went unheeded as they made a ponderous start. They repeatedly gave away possession, although the ball was bobbling about on the relaid surface.

Instead it was Leeds who handed them their first opening when Jonathon Woodgate and Ian Harte missed Wes Brown's ball to let in Andy Cole, but he was thwarted by Nigel Martyn. That was the first of a number of fine saves by Martyn and he pulled off a fantastic stop to keep out Butt's header from Phil Neville's cross. Unfortunately the England goalkeeper injured his back making the save.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink then stunned the home fans when he fired Leeds ahead on the half hour. Manchester gave the ball away in their own half and when the Dutch international received the ball on the left wing he cut inside, beat Phil Neville and hit a right-foot shot which went in off the inside of the near post.

It was his fifth goal in five games and Leeds' first at Old Trafford since August 1991. Cole then sliced over before Martyn stuck out his right foot to deny Butt. Leeds might have had a second when Stephen McPhail played Harry Kewell in behind the Reds' static defence, but the Australian lifted the ball over Peter Schmeichel and wide of the goal.

Just as Leeds' thoughts were turning towards a well-earned cup of tea, United equalised in the 45th minute. Roy Keane played the ball to Dwight Yorke, who beat Wetherall before releasing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who marked his first league start in over two months by shooting across Martyn into the far corner for his seventh goal of the season.

Leeds' bad luck continued when Paul Robinson took over from Martyn at half-time and within 22 seconds of the restart he was picking the ball out of his net. Paul Scholes broke down the right and pulled the ball back to Keane who rammed home his second strike of the season from eight yards out. United were a totally different side from the one which had laboured so much in the first-half and Phil Neville fired an angled drive just over.

Leeds, though, were far from finished and they silenced the United faithful with a 51st-minute equaliser. Kewell capitalised on a mistake by Brown and he waited until Schmeichel had committed himself before slotting home his fifth goal in eight games.

Keane felt he should have had a penalty four minutes later and the angry Reds skipper had words with Alf-Inge Haaland, whom he injured his knee trying to foul last season. But just like with United's three other spot-kick appeals in the first half, referee Graham Poll gave nothing. Ferguson was determined not to see another two points slip away and on came the fit-again Ryan Giggs and Teddy Sheringham. Kewell spurned a great chance to restore Leeds' lead in the 73rd minute when he shot wide after being played in by Hasselbaink.

Robinson proved he is no slouch either when he produced a great stop to deny Sheringham. Then came Butt's moment of glory when he received the ball in the area from Phil Neville and spun round before shooting home past Robinson. As the game entered its final minutes Leeds brought on supersub Alan Smith, but the 18-year-old could not make it three goals in three appearances from the bench.

POST MATCH REACTIONS

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson praised Nicky Butt after his side recorded a 3-2 home victory over Leeds. Butt wrapped up the points and Reds' boss Ferguson said: "He was our best player. He could easily have had a hat-trick.

"Nigel Martyn made two great saves to deny him, but he got the winning goal due to his perseverance. It's been a mixed season for Nicky. He's been sent off twice, one of them unfairly at Arsenal, but he will be pleased with himself today because he has persevered throughout the whole match.

"But this was an exciting game anyway. I was surprised by Leeds because they attacked us from the start and their front two were a real handful. But we came through what was a great test for us. This was a major result and a very exciting performance."

TEAMS

Manchester United: Schmeichel, G Neville, P Neville, Brown, Stam, Butt, Keane, Scholes, Solskjaer, Cole, Yorke.
Subs: Giggs for Cole, Sheringham for Scholes, Berg for Stam.
Scorers: Solskjaer (45), Keane (46), Butt (77)

Leeds United: Martyn, Harte, Wetherhall, Woodgate, Haaland, Ribero, Hopkin, McPheal, Halla, Kewell, Hasselbaink.
Subs: Robinson for Martyn, Smith for Ribero.
Scorers: Hasselbaink (30), Kewell (52)

Referee: G Poll