David O'Leary's well-practised persona as the naive, novice manager is beginning to wear thin. A comfortable victory over Middlesbrough lifted Leeds into second place, their highest position under the Irishman, and while this season's title may prove beyond their capabilities, O'Leary had better grow accustomed to his team being ranked among the division's elite.
On the eve of the season, no less an authority than Alex Ferguson cited Leeds as his personal choice as the dark horse most capable of catching Manchester United this season.
The sale of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink soon after may have reduced Leeds's standing in the view of some, but this morning's Premiership table suggests otherwise.
Goals from their precocious youngsters Michael Bridges and Harry Kewell secured the points and Leeds have emerged as the team most capable of joining United, Arsenal and Chelsea at the summit of domestic football.
"It's a nice feeling to be in second place," said O'Leary. "But let's see where we are at the end of the season.
"The best team won by far, but we made it difficult for ourselves because we were so sloppy with our finishing. I couldn't understand it. I don't see why there should be any tiredness from the European game this week given that we played Tuesday and were back in good time that night."
However sloppy Leeds finishing may have been, Middlesbrough struggled to cope with their slick passing and movement in the opening exchanges and there was an air of inevitability about Bridges's 14th minute opening goal.
David Hopkin's long ball forward found Kewell, he headed intelligently into the path of Alan Smith whose far post cross found Bridges. The young striker's shot required a slight deflection off the unfortunate Gary Pallister.
The opening 15 minutes set the tone for a long period of Leeds domination but, as the half progressed, Middlesbrough's former England midfielder Paul Ince began to assert his authority on the game, creating his team's first chances of the game with a pair of long-range shots.
Ince's impressive display was enough to force O'Leary into a tactical reshuffle either side of the interval which saw him adopt a three-man forward line with substitute Gary Kelly adding his defensive prowess to that of David Batty and Lee Bowyer in midfield.
The tactic would prove successful, although that success owed as much to the visitors' poor finishing and a costly error from veteran central defender Colin Cooper.
He underhit a 64th minute back pass which was intercepted by substitute Darren Huckerby 25 yards from goal. Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer almost recovered the situation but the ball broke to Kewell who nonchalantly rolled it into the open goal from 30 yards.
With the possible exception of Bridges, Leeds lack a natural predatory goalscorer. Alan Smith underlined that weakness, shooting wide when a Batty pass put him clean through on the goalkeeper.
That miss might have proved costly as the visitors continued to make, and waste, chances of their own.
Keith O'Neill's strong shot was well saved by Nigel Martyn at the foot of his post and Cooper wasted the opportunity to make amends for his earlier error when he placed the ball directly at Martyn from eight yards.
Middlesbrough's manager Bryan Robson has confirmed that Brazilian international Juninho will play for the club against Chesterfield in tomorrow's Worthington Cup tie. The on-loan midfielder missed yesterday's visit to Leeds because his international clearance from Atletico Madrid had not been processed.
LEEDS UTD: Martyn, Mills, Radebe, Woodgate, Harte, Hopkin (Kelly 46), Batty, Bowyer, Kewell, Bridges (Huckerby 53), Smith. Subs Not Used: Haaland, Robinson, Bakke. Booked: Bowyer. Goals: Bridges 14, Kewell 64.
MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer, Festa, Vickers, Pallister, Cooper, Ziege, Mustoe, Ince, O'Neill, Deane, Armstrong (Ricard 72). Subs Not Used: Fleming, Beresford, Maddison, Gavin. Booked: Pallister, Festa, Ziege, Ince.
Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury).
