28/12/2002  Leeds 2 Chelsea 0
 
James Milner added to his new-found burgeoning reputation 
with a goal to remember as Leeds ended title-chasing Chelsea's 
unbeaten run with a first Elland Road win for more than three 
months.

Milner, who became the youngest Premier League goalscorer 
with Leeds' equaliser in the 2-1 Boxing Day win at Sunderland 
just nine days short of his 17th birthday, sealed a sparkling 
triumph with an outstanding finish in first-half injury 
time.

And if you are going to win your first home league match 
since September 14 then you may as well do it in style, for 
Leeds had taken a 30th-minute lead courtesy of Jonathan 
Woodgate's first goal for two years.

Leeds have now taken 10 points from the last 12 to ensure 
manager Terry Venables' Christmas has been a very happy one, 
further allaying any fears of a new year battle to beat the 
drop.

Chelsea, who had started the day without a defeat in their 
last 11 games, had hoped to close the gap behind leaders 
Arsenal to just one point, but found themselves undone by an 
apprentice who is earning just £80 per week.

Milner is due to sign a professional deal on his 17th 
birthday next Saturday which will be worth around £800 per 
week, and on this evidence, he will be well worth the 
money.

Chelsea, though, perhaps created their own downfall as boss 
Claudio Ranieri made a remarkable seven changes to the side 
held to a goalless draw at home by Southampton two days ago, 
and it clearly disrupted the Blues' shape and flow.

There were a couple of early scares for Leeds, with a 
Gianfranco Zola snap shot in the second minute rifled straight 
at Paul Robinson, while an unmarked William Gallas failed to 
even find the target after latching onto a Graeme Le Saux 
inswinging corner at the far post.

Chelsea's leading scorer Zola then had another opportunity 
to end a scoreless run which now stretches to 10 games with a 
25-yard free-kick curler which was inches over the angle of 
bar and post after Eidur Gudjohnsen had been fouled by Paul 
Okon.

Instead, it was a Leeds side buoyed by an unbeaten run 
going into the game of three matches, who showed all their old 
invention and flair.

They shook off the shackles which have previously 
restrained them at Elland Road as Venables and his players had 
previously conceded they were becoming afraid to take to their 
own stage.

But with Harry Kewell showing signs of returning to the 
star name which once made him a £20million target for the 
richest clubs in Serie A and the Primera Liga, it was Leeds 
who looked a side full of confidence.

Ed de Goey, retaining his place in the Chelsea side for the 
injured Carlo Cudicini, initially proved he is still an 
outstanding goalkeeper as he twice denied Leeds midway through 
the first half.

An Eirik Bakke flick in the 19th minute caught Chelsea's 
defence napping, allowing Kewell to run on and crack a 16-yard 
left-foot drive which brought out the best from the 
Dutchman.

Just four minutes later Alan Smith's headed flick to a 
Jason Wilcox corner had the 36-year-old at full stretch in 
tipping the ball over the bar.

But it did not take long for Leeds to finally make their 
mark, winning a corner in the 30th minute after a glancing 
header from Kewell from a right-wing cross from an advanced 
Woodgate took a slight deflection past de Goey's left-hand 
post.

With Milner waiting to come on, Kelly rolled the ball to 
Wilcox for a curling cross which Woodgate powerfully headed 
beyond de Goey - albeit taking a touch off Gallas - for his 
first goal for two years and five days.

As the Leeds fans celebrated, a limping Kewell was then 
immediately replaced by Milner and there could have been fears 
Leeds might have lost their way.

For a moment soon after there was a danger of the game 
bubbling over too to mirror past heated encounters - the last 
13 producing 71 bookings and four red cards - when Smith was 
shown a yellow for hacking down Mario Stanic.

Smith could perhaps count himself fortunate to have still 
been on the pitch as he had escaped punishment for an earlier 
and clear elbow on Graeme Le Saux.

It appeared at that stage the left-back's two-footed lunge 
on Danny Mills in the corresponding fixture last season had 
perhaps not been forgotten.

Le Saux only received a caution at the time, although for 
his protests from the technical area, it led to the expulsion 
of then boss David O'Leary to the Elland Road stands.

But any threat of the game exploding was extinguished on 
the stroke of half-time with Milner's exquisite strike as he 
first took a pass from Wilcox in his stride.

World Cup winner and Chelsea skipper Marcel Desailly was 
then left trailing in the local hero's wake before he then 
curled a sensational 18-yard right-foot shot beyond de 
Goey.

Leeds then celebrated in style for Milner was literally 
mobbed by his team-mates as everyone bar Robinson piled on top 
of the grounded young star.

After the break Leeds did not face the onslaught they could 
have perhaps expected, although there were chances for Enrique 
de Lucas, Eidur Gudjohnsen and former Leeds star Jimmy Floyd 
Hasselbaink which went begging.

By the final whistle, the cheers which greeted referee 
Graham Barber's shrill blast reverberated around the ground, 
perhaps as much with relief as delight - although the loudest 
shout of all was for the magnificent Milner.