Leeds United 2; Sunderland 0: It has been 41 years since Sunderland last won a league match at Elland Road, and their failure to end that ignominious record yesterday will just increase the sense of dread on Wearside about how long it may be before they get another chance.
Though Derby and Ipswich must harbour the gravest concerns about accompanying Leicester into the First Division, Peter Reid's side remain in peril after losing their seventh match in the past eight on their travels.
The damage may prove to be superficial, but a turbulent season is spiralling towards a nerve-shredding finale. Next to come are Liverpool. "I'm sure we'll win that one," offered Reid, but his confidence was neither convincing nor contagious.
Sunderland have managed only three wins in their past 15 games and, though this victory for Leeds was achieved with a sizeable element of good fortune, there were no grievances within the visiting camp that it had not been fully deserved.
After a freakish own-goal from Jody Craddock, Robbie Keane's late strike soothed any lingering nerves inside Elland Road, while reinvigorating Leeds's hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Cup rather than having to make do with the Intertoto Cup.
England's ubiquitous coach Sven Goran Ericksson was n in attendance yesterday and those Leeds supporters campaigning for Lee Bowyer's inclusion in the England side are entitled to feel a smug satisfaction that, on football values alone, he strengthened his case for being called up for the friendly against Paraguay at Anfield on April 17th. Bowyer's display, full of running and energy, was the outstanding Leeds performance, leaving O'Leary to remark that the midfielder was a "freak of nature, I've never known anyone like him".
For the second successive week, however, Danny Mills showed the watching Eriksson more reasons against taking him to the World Cup, while Robbie Fowler's excellent movement was betrayed by some unusually weak finishing before being substituted for Keane just after the hour.
Fowler's profligacy, particularly in the first half, would have mattered more had it not been for the outrageous moment of fortune, after eight minutes, that precipitated Sunderland's downfall.
Bowyer started the move, dispossessing Kevin Phillips on the halfway line and feeding Alan Smith on the right. The striker, improvising as a makeshift right-winger, ran outside George McCartney and whipped in a cross that spun off Craddock's shin as he attempted to clear under pressure from Mark Viduka.
Almost in slow motion, the ball looped up and over Thomas Sorensen in goal.
Buoyed by their good fortune, Leeds dictated the remainder of the first half, and when Phillips failed to reappear after the interval, Sunderland's hopes appeared to have diminished.
Yet Reid's side played with a renewed purpose after the break and were left to reflect on a gilt-edged chance that the substitute Patrick Mboma struck over the crossbar eight minutes from time.
Almost immediately, Leeds broke upfield and Viduka slipped in Keane to score his first Premiership goal since September, the Irishman played onside by McCartney, who was lying injured by the corner flag.
LEEDS: Martyn, Mills, Woodgate, Matteo, Harte, Smith, Bakke, Batty, Bowyer, Fowler (Keane 60), Viduka. Subs Not Used: Robinson, Kelly, Wilcox, Johnson. Booked: Bowyer, Batty. Goals: Craddock 8 og, Keane 83.
SUNDERLAND: Sorensen, Williams (Bellion 79), Bjorklund, Craddock, McCartney, McAteer, McCann, Reyna, Kilbane, Quinn, Phillips (Mboma 45). Subs Not Used: Macho, Thirlwell, Butler. Booked: McCann.
Referee: P Jones (Loughborough).
