Leeds 3 Leicester 1

	Leeds celebrate the opening goal against Leicester City (RossKinnaird/Allsport)

At one point, it seemed the own-goal equaliser which spun off the outstretched leg of Rio Ferdinand was to be expensive - costing Leeds a place in next season's Champions League.

But roughly 200 miles away Ferdinands mistake was rendered meaningless by Liverpool's rout of Charlton.

In the end Leeds won comfortably enough, but it will have been of little consolation to manager O'Leary as Liverpool condemned his team to the UEFA Cup.

In the final half-hour yesterday, a fiercely-stuck free-kick from Ian Harte and a stylishly poached goal from Alan Smith eased the Elland Road heartache by securing a deserved win.

For Ferdinand there was the comforting knowledge that the freak goal he inadvertently gave to Leicester did not prove to be the moment which brought closure on Leeds grandest ambition.

This morning, too, Rio should reflect on the way he has helped Leeds confront their early crisis to fulfil a remarkable renaissance from the Premiership's lower reaches to a place among the elite.

Leeds, unquestionably, are a team for all seasons - not just the current campaign which has gloriously built their reputation across Europe in the past few demanding, but rewarding, months.

With a steadier nerve and a cooler application of his considerable skills, Harry Kewell alone could have replicated the six-goal destruction inflicted on Bradford a week ago.

Instead, with both head and boot, the Australian was more profligate than pirate as Leicester struggled to contain his threat.

Mark Viduka could also claim that, if he had been blessed with a fraction of the luck Liverpool have enjoyed of late, he would not have been denied by the woodwork on a couple of occasions when it seemed certain he must score.

Leicester's resistance, so formidable under Martin O'Neill, was punctured with regular frequency and there must now be increasing uncertainty over manager Peter Taylor's future.

He might well be a coach for England, but the men in authority at Filbert Street are covetously watching Preston manager David Moyes as a possible replacement when they take to the field for the new season next August.

There was not much Taylor could do to alter the course of yesterday's contest as Leeds striker Smith seized his first goal in the 28th minute.

Reckless defending granted Kewell the opportunity of a low, penetrating cross. At the far post, despite the attentions of Callum Davidson, Smith was able to bundle the ball over the line.

Four minutes later came Ferdinand's fateful moment.

A clattering header from Junior Lewis rattled the bar above Nigel Martyn and the ricochet rebounded off the hapless Ferdinand's knee into the net.

There is, though, an aggression and exuberance about Leeds that has carried them beyond the defensive resources of teams better equipped than Leicester.

So it proved as Harte and Smith delivered goals in the 76th and 90th minutes.

For both these gifted players there will surely be many more prizes and memories to collect in the pursuit of Manchester United over the coming years.