Manchester United 1 - 1 Leeds United

	Mark Viduka puts Leeds in front (CliveBrunskill/Allsport)

Consider the words of David O'Leary, believed to be a prime candidate to succeed Ferguson when he steps down at the end of what the Old Trafford manager hopes will be a glorious finale to his career.

'I'm really disappointed because United were there for the taking,' said the Leeds manager, after being denied maximum points in the closing seconds. 'We should definitely have won. We had them after scoring at the right time. Then we sat back and invited them to come on to us. We stopped playing.

'Their strength is in going forward, not in defending. There is no bigger test than United at Old Trafford and I'm extremely disappointed we haven't won.'

Ferguson's view was that it would have been a travesty had United plunged to what would have been a third home defeat in four games.

Indeed, having been rescued by another expert finish from super substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, United might easily have triumphed.

Nigel Martyn had to demonstrate England goalkeeping expertise with a fortuitous block to a combined effort by Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ryan Giggs, then an acrobatic leap to turn away a far more powerful header by the anguished Dutchman.

Nevertheless, this was a day when the youthful freshness and exuberance of Leeds conveyed the irresistible impression that it is they who represent the team of the immediate future.

They had not won at Old Trafford for 20 years and although O'Leary suggested they were nervous and showed too much respect in the opening half, there was never any suggestion that the home side would administer a spanking.

The movement and close control of Van Nistelrooy was a joy to behold. The fact that he was not allowed to inflict serious damage was testimony to the burgeoning authority and composure of Rio Ferdinand who, alongside Dominic Matteo at the heart of the Leeds defence, was flawless.

While the first 45 minutes throbbed with interest and excitement, the second bore the hallmarks of a classic encounter.

Indeed, Ferguson underlined the quality when he said: 'There were moments in the game of severe intensity. You know what the stakes are and this was what the Premier League is all about. I don't think there is another country in the world which can produce that kind of excitement.'

United had reason to bemoan the failure of referee Dermot Gallagher to dismiss Robbie Keane in the 57th minute when the Leeds man responded to a painful rap around the ankles from David Beckham with a retaliatory push which sent the England captain tumbling. Even O'Leary thought the sending-off was inevitable.

But Gallagher contented himself with a yellow card for the pair and through his indulgence undoubtedly preserved the pulse of the occasion.

Mind you, all hell might have broken out three minutes later had the official not disallowed a Keane free-kick fired beyond Fabien Barthez because the errant Leeds player had shot before being signalled to do so.

There was no such argument about the validity of the Leeds goal in the 77th minute, which set up genuine fears of another Old Traf-ford demise for United.

Television evidence suggested that Mark Viduka might have been fractionally offside when Ian Harte delivered his cross from the left wing. Equally, Mikael Silvestre then allowed himself to drift the wrong side of his opponent and there was no protest forthcoming from United when Viduka forced his shot past the unprotected Barthez.

With a modicum of more confidence and maturity, Leeds would surely have finished United off. But they tried to protect the advantage and, as O'Leary said: 'They have six players who can undo you when they're allowed to go forward.'

It was Solskjaer, a 75th-minute replacement for Nicky Butt, who applied the expertly-headed finish when he towered above Harte to meet the far-flung cross from Giggs in the final minute of normal time.

However, United have equalled their worst start to a Premiership campaign since 1992-93, although in that season of the Premiership's inception, they recovered, of course, to win the first of their seven championships in nine years.

The evidence, though, suggests it is unlikely to prove so straightforward this time. Leeds are thriving on the back of their own unbeaten start and look capable of delivering a sustained title challenge.

Ferguson admitted: 'You've got to think they can do it, the way the league is shaping up. But there might be five or six teams involved during April and that would be fantastic for us. The games would really mean something then.

'Certainly we are going to have to control this topsy-turvy situation a little better and I think we will. I'm positive we will progress and the consistency will come.'