Post-match reaction

Tim Hobbs reporting

Leeds made a welcome return to winning ways by growling their way to a gritty win over Sunderland.

After two straight Premiership defeats, the result was all that mattered around Elland Road and goals from Lee Bowyer and Mark Viduka made sure it was third time lucky for David O'Leary's men.

But with Harry Kewell back to provide some much needed flair down the left and David Batty enjoying a run-out for the first time in a year, Leeds showed glimpses of the sort of form that saw them finish third last season.

Sunderland played their part in a pulsating game and were perhaps worth a goal with Niall Quinn having one ruled out for offside and sub Danny Dichio heading against the bar.

As Leeds tired towards the end, the Black Cats bombarded the home goal but some sloppy finishing denied them a consolation.

Similar inadequacies in front of goal threatened to frustrate the home side in a bright opening before Bowyer, who was a constant thorn in Sunderland's left-hand side, finally eased the growing nerves around Elland Road.

The build-up was more fortunate than fluent as Alan Smith and Viduka tried to exchange volleyed passes with little success before Jody Craddock kindly sliced the ball into Bowyer's path, allowing him to silence the familiar taunts from the away fans with a calm finish inside the far post.

Had Quinn shown the same coolness when latching onto a Kevin Phillips nod-down 10 yards out, Sunderland could have been level within minutes, but O'Leary's former club and international colleague blazed woefully wide to leave Leeds ahead at the break.

They were sent out with strict instructions to instantly double the lead, and Bowyer forced Thomas Sorensen into a smothering stop while Kewell became an increasing threat.

But Sunderland had a chance to snuff out the mounting pressure when Gary Kelly and Paul Robinson delayed over a loose ball. Phillips nipped in to feed Quinn, who this time curled in a fine finish only to be denied by the linesman's flag.

Quinn was to have even less luck later on as Rio Ferdinand produced a timely tackle that at last looked worthy of the megabucks Leeds paid West Ham, just as the Black Cats' beanpole was about to poke home from close range.

Quinn's opposite number Viduka was enduring a similar afternoon. After leaving Emerson Thome flat out with a flailing arm, the Aussie was denied by a point-blank stop from Sorensen and, from his position on the floor, saw his rebound blocked by a man on the line.

He then stabbed another rebound wide after Eirik Bakke's cheeky back-heel had come off the post. But he finally got it right with the decisive second 12 minutes from time.

Bakke fed Kewell down the Leeds right and, after cutting back on to his lethal left foot, the returning hero picked out his fellow Antipodean who buried his 13th goal of the season with a simple header.

The breathing space allowed Batty to enter a scrap that at times boiled over with a spate of bookings, and at the least simmered nicely enough to keep Sunderland interested.

Smith had a similar effort to Quinn ruled out for offside after a Batty through-ball. The visitors then staged a late rally.

Robinson did well to tip Alex Rae's stinging drive over the top, and from the corner sub Dichio's header came back off the bar and was blasted woefully over by Kevin Kilbane � just in case anyone had doubted that it was to be Leeds' day.

Leeds: Robinson, Kelly, Matteo, Woodgate, Ferdinand, Bowyer, Bakke, Dacourt (Batty 79), Kewell, Viduka (Huckerby 87), Smith.
Subs Not Used: Martyn, Wilcox, Mills.
Booked: Bakke, Viduka, Woodgate.
Goals: Bowyer 23, Viduka 78.
Sunderland: Sorensen, Williams, Craddock, Thome, Gray, Arca, Rae, McCann, Kilbane, Quinn (Dichio 82), Phillips.
Subs Not Used: Marriott, Schwarz, Oster, Varga. Booked: Thome, Craddock, Phillips.

Att: 40,053
Ref: R Styles (Waterlooville).

O'LEARY FINALLY FIELDS HIS DREAM TEAM
 
David O'Leary saw his dreams become reality as he finally fielded a full-strength side in the 2-0 win over Sunderland.

Harry Kewell started his first game of the season and David Batty came on as a sub, leaving the Leeds boss able to put his best-laid plans into practice.

O'Leary said: "For the first time this season I watched us playing the way I know we can play and that was because of the players we had back.

"Despite many great results it has been a frustrating season. But my priority remains the Premier League and I have to say it was nice to be able to field such a squad like I did today.

"I had Viduka, Smith and Kewell up front and a tight three in midfield behind them for the first time this season.

"I've imagined doing it, and today I was finally able to put it into practice and we looked a more powerful unit because of it.

"I told the players after the game that I hoped that this result is the start of us kicking on in the Premier League.

"I believe we are a top three side, but to achieve that you've got to have the players available, because this game is all about players.

"With the squad I now have available we can now concentrate for the next two months on the Premier League before the Champions League starts again, by which time I hope we are back up where we belong."

Peter Reid had less to smile about than O'Leary, but was still happy with his men despite the result.

The Black Cats' boss was full of praise for his players, even if he was not best pleased with their profligacy in front of goal.

Reid said: "It was an excellent game of football, but they took their chances and we didn't, although I am delighted with the performance of my team.

"We will play a lot worse than that and get a result and, although I'm disappointed about us losing the game, it is a hard place to come.

"Leeds are a good side and although I don't like talking about the opposition, David (O'Leary) has had a lot of injuries early on and now he's getting those players back.

"When you look at the team they have a lot of quality and their bench wasn't bad either, but I still thought we did enough to get something out of the game.

"Niall Quinn had an off-day, but at least he was there to miss the chances because on another day those he had would have gone in the back of the net."