The Match
DOMINIC Matteo popped up at the right time to give Leeds a win that they fully deserved throughout, but had at one stage looked to have thrown it away.
Michael Duberry's first goal for the club since May 2000 set United on their way, before Mark Viduka hit a wonderful goal to end his drought of no goals in the previous nine matches.
Fulham hit back with two from Louis Saha and threatened to ruin all United's hard work, but then Dominic Matteo chose an apt time to head home his first ever Premiership goal for The Whites.
TEAM NEWS
United caretaker boss Eddie Gray made just one change to the side that drew with Chelsea, bringing a fit again David Batty back into the side at the expense of Stephen McPhail who dropped down to the bench.
Gray stuck to the 4-5-1 formation that served him so well in the previous two games.
Full-back Frazer Richardson is on the bench for the first time after returning from a loan spell with Stoke City.
Fulham mase two changes - Jon Harley and Luis Boa Morte were recalled; Jerome Bonnissel and Junichi Inamoto the men who had been dropped.
THE MATCH
It was the visitors who started the brighter, but after a few minutes The Whites began to find their rhythm and began to show themselves as an attacking force.
Kelly's long ball forward was perfect for Jermaine Pennant to run onto down the right flank, and the winger sent in a dangerous cross towards Viduka in the centre, but it was just too high for the big Aussie to get his head to and the bounce likewise for James Milner who was just as well positioned to take advantage.
It was Michael Duberry who had United's first attempt at goal with a header at the backpost after meeting Harte's corner. It was easily saved by Van der Sar in the Fulham goal though.
After weathering some pressure from the visitors, Leeds forced Van der Sar into a good save through Viduka. The striker had the ball laid off to him by David Batty 22-yards out and he struck it sweetly, but the Dutch keeper was just able to get down and hold onto the shot.
What was otherwise a poor game was brightened by some flashes of good play from Leeds. Gary Kelly's cross nearly carved out another opening for Viduka and both Milner and Pennant looked to go past people down their respective wings.
Twice Andy Melville was called into action for Fulham to turn away Pennant's wicked crosses at the expense of corners, but Leeds could not find a finish behind any of them.
Past the half hour mark Leeds began to play with confidence, passing the ball comfortably between themselves and patiently trying to carve out an opening. For a change it was a visiting side who were being hurried into making all the errors.
Chances were still at a premium though and one of the talking points of the half was a clearance from Fulham that was so high it nearly took out the Radio Leeds commentary position on the gantry, a mere 50 feet up.
Then, with five minutes to go before the break, came a lucky break for Leeds that they hadn't had so far this season.
Boa Morte brought down Smith some 25-yards out, giving Ian Harte the chance to try his luck with a free-kick. The Irishman struck is well but it was met by a great save from Van der Saar - a saved though that took the ball straight to Michael Duberry lurking at the back post and the ball cannoned back off his knees and into the goal.
It was most definitely a fluke, but you would not have heard anyone inside Elland Road complaining!
HALF TIME
A blistering start to the second half saw two quick goals, one for either side.
The first was a brilliant individual effort from Mark Viduka, who picked the ball up with his back to goal at least 30 yards out, swivelled and struck a beautiful goal into the far right hand corner of the net to put Leeds 2-0 up.
It was the striker's first goal in ten games, and not a moment too soon.
Before the celebrations had died down though, the visitors launched a quick attack from the kick-off and Louis Saha managed to fire home a low shot from the edge of the area under Robinson which made it 2-1.
It was a reminder to Leeds that they would have to fight all the way for the points in this game.
The visitors were denied a certain equaliser when Paul Robinson got down superbly to parry away Saha's shot and miraculously the ball evaded every Fulham player in a crowded penalty area.
A game that for the majority of the first half was without few action points had exploded into life and United fans were off their seats again when Jermaine Pennant smacked a left footed volley against the bar from 12 yards following good set-up play by Viduka.
There were catcalls of derision for referee Neale Barry when he made Alan Smith the second United player to be booked for a foul on Sean Davis. David Batty had been the first.
With 25 minutes left to play skipper Dominic Matteo found himself in position to secure the win for Leeds. Milner's cross into the box was controlled by Viduka who managed to lay it off to Matteo right on the edge of the box, but the Scot sliced his shot and it went wide of the far post.
Nearly a year ago James Milner burst onto the scene at Christmas time by marking his home debut with a classy goal against Chelsea, and he attempted to recreate that scene again but this time his curling shot was straight at the keeper.
United were nearly dealt another slice of luck with 12 minutes remaining when Pennant's cross from the right was deflected by Melville onto the post, it then fell to James Milner but he could not keep the shot down.
Milner nearly rounded off the afternoon with a cool breakaway goal that would have brought the house down. Pennant broke from midfield and slipped the ball inside to Milner who then clipped a curling shot that appeared to have the beating of the keeper, but Van der Sar somehow got to the ball.
Leeds were then punished for backing away as Saha let fly with left footed shot that hit Robinson's body and somehow to squirm in. That made it 2-2 and what had looked like three points for United for much of the game were reduced to one.
Credit to Leeds though for keeping going and they piled the pressure on and threw caution to the wind in order to get the win.
It came through captain fantastic.
Ian Harte sent a free-kick into the penalty area and Dominic Matteo jumped highest and met the ball with a perfectly flighted header past Van der Sar.
Even then the drama was not over, Legwinski's shot was going in until Robinson got his finger to the ball, and then at the other end Matteo crossed for Pennant to volley the ball but Van der Sar managed to deflect it wide.
When the final whistle thanfully wen it was three points well deserved and never more so hard worked for.
Three more points nearer safety.
David Batty, 56, Unsporting behaviour
