After a traumatic week off the field, Leeds United re-established their Premiership credentials on it with a significant 2-1 victory at Sunderland.

They gave an emphatic answer to those who questioned how David O'Leary's young side would react to the arrest and bailing of their team mates Lee Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate.

Both played a full part in the victory of fifth placed Sunderland yesterday, which means Leeds will remain top tonight whatever happens at Old Trafford where Manchester United take on Arsenal.

Leeds showed that their team spirit had not been broken by last weeks front page tabloid headlines.

"We do our talking on the pitch," said O'Leary, clearly angry at some of the advice newspapers had given him in respect of Bowyer and Woodgate's selection.

Leeds never quite got into top gear against Peter Reid's battlers, but became only the second side, after Liverpool to win at the Stadium of Light this season.

In the process they notched up their ninth straight win over Sunderland and got their Premiership title aspirations back on track, following successive defeats against Arsenal and Aston Villa.

Bowyer was quickly in the midst of the action, driving wide in the second minute after Michael Bridges opened up a huge gap on Sunderland's left flank.

There was little between the sides in the opening exchanges but Leeds were thankful to Nigel Martyn, who plunged low to his left to keep out a Kevin Phillips effort after Jason Wilcox's error.

Wilcox, making his first premiership start for Leeds, made amends three minutes later.

Stephen McPhail's instant left footed flick opened up oceans of space for Wilcox and the ex-Blackburn man thrashed a 20 yard rising drive beyond Thomas Sorensen.

After their heavy loss at Arsenal, Reid opted for a five-man midfield which meant the ever dangerous Phillips lacked support up front and Sunderland were only able to carve out half chances.

Leeds were making progress down the left particularly, and that's where the second goal came from, Wilcox's first and perfect cross ensuring a happy return to Wearside for Bridges who flicked the ball in from close range.

At that stage a comfortable Leeds victory looked assured but within a minute Woodgate made his only error of the match.

He dallied on the ball and the razor sharp Phillips dispossessed him and sent an angled drive passed Martyn for his 20th goal of the season.

Phillips' goal - and a switch to 4-4-2 - saw Sunderland take charge of the final 3rd of the game but despite a few scrambles in the penalty area Martyn was not unduly tested and Leeds rode out the storm to end a torrid week on a high note.

Sunderland 1, Leeds Utd 2

Sunderland: Sorensen, Williams, Butler, Bould (Craddock 76), Gray (Holloway HT), McCann, Rae, Schwarz, Roy (Reddy 63), Kilbane, Phillips. Subs (not used): Marriott, Oster.

Goal: Phillips 52.

Leeds United: Martyn, Kelly, Duberry, Woodgate, Harte, Bowyer, Bakke, McPhail, Wilcox, Kewell, Bridges (Huckerby 74). Subs (not used) Robinson, Mills, Jones, Haaland.

Caution: Bakke.

Goals: Wilcox 24, Bridges 50.

Referee: Peter Jones (Loughborough)

Attendance: 41,947

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.