Sunderland 0 Leeds 2

	Alan Smith of Leeds is mobbed by team mates after scoring the opening goal (Ross Kinnaird/Allsport)

And when the prizes are handed out it could be the six points Leeds have taken from their games against Sunderland that will be significant.

Alan Smith's first-half goal and a clincher from Mark Viduka in added time did the damage for Leeds after Sunderland were refused a penalty, a decision that enraged the home play-ers, fans and manager Peter Reid.

The victory maintained United's impressive record of never having lost to the Wearsiders in the top flight in 21 years, but it came at a price, with Smith receiving his marching orders in 71st minute after receiving his second yellow card. Leeds were in no mood to alter the course of history in a confident opening when they looked sharper and quicker to the ball.

Thomas Sorensen, back from international duty after easing Peter Schmeichel out of the Denmark team, had to clutch a high cross from Danny Mills under pressure from Viduka.

But an injury to Olivier Dacourt, carried off in the eighth minute after a tackle by Don Hutchison, forced a Leeds change, with Eirik Bakke taking his place. The switch sparked a spell of home pressure that the visitors were fortunate to overcome.

Hutchison had a shooting chance but delayed his effort just long enough for Ian Harte to get in a block and divert the ball for a corner. Then Stefan Schwarz, from just inside the penalty area, tried a speculative shot that flashed inches wide of Nigel Martyn's right-hand post.

Leeds should have gone ahead in the 20th minute when a Mills pass put Lee Bowyer clear down the left. But Sorensen dashed off his line to narrow Bowyer's angle, and the eventual shot was hopelessly wide.

Lucas Radebe was booked for hand-ball a minute later but Sunderland had another let-off when Sorensen misjudged the flight of a high cross from Harry Kewell and needed Michael Gray to make a timely clearance.

The Sunderland keeper was more positive with a full-length save to deny Bowyer in the 29th minute but soon afterwards Leeds did grab the lead in controversial circumstances.

Kevin Phillips appeared to be hauled down by Rio Ferdinand just inside the penalty area, but referee Steve Dunn waved play on, to the disgust of the Sunderland striker and the home bench.

United went straight down and angered Sunderland even more when Kewell, unmarked at the far post, nodded a Harte corner back into the middle for Smith to complete the job with a neat header.

It was too much for Phillips who continued his protest with such force that he was shown a yellow card. The furore was still going strong at the end of a first half, which stretched out an extra four minutes, and Sunderland manager Reid needed to be restrained when attempting to approach Mr Dunn.

Leeds were forced to make another switch at half-time with Gary Kelly replacing Radebe and Mills moving into the central defensive position, but it made little difference to the flow of the game with the visitors remaining in command.

They might have doubled their advantage in the 56th minute when the ball broke kindly for Kewell, who was allowed to stride forward from what looked an offside position and his neat left-foot shot was brilliantly pushed for a corner by Sorensen.

Reid had opted for a second-half shake-up in which Danny Dichio came on for Hutchison and Irish teenager Tommy Butler took over from countryman Kevin Kilbane.

There was no shortage of drama when goal hero Smith, booked earlier for a foul on Gray, was sent off after his foul on Patrice Carteron prompted that second yellow.

The inevitable surge of home pressure followed and Martyn was at his best to fingertip a Julio Arca effort around a post in the 72nd minute.

Reid brought on Stanislav Varga for Jody Craddock and Leeds substituted Kewell with Robbie Keane and the two came together in the 85th minute when the Slovakia defender was booked for toppling the Irishman.