CarlingNet - No 1 for Match Reports

Leeds v Man United 07/09/96 3.00

Leeds                   (0) 0 Man United              (1) 4 FT
                              Martyn 3 (og)
                              Butt 49
                              Poborsky 77
                              Cantona 90

Karel Poborsky sent the Juventus spy home to Italy with a warning for the European Champions' defenders that they cannot afford to relax for a moment against Manchester United's bewildering array of attacking talent.

A triumph of opportunism gave Alex Ferguson only his second win at Elland Road since Leeds returned to the top flight seven seasons ago, goals at the start of each half and the first from the £3.6million Czech making this a comfortable warm-up for Wednesday's trip to Turin.

The English champions could even afford an unprecedented penalty miss by captain Eric Cantona, his first in this country, though as so often the Frenchman had the last laugh over his old club with the coup de grace in injury time.

He stood arms outraised, drinking in the abuse of fans who once adored him before the Yorkshire crowd turned their anger on home boss Howard Wilkinson.

But Juventus assistant Narciso Pezzotti will not draw too much significance from this performance, which even saw a first appearance of the season for £7m misfit Andy Cole.

United were without England defender Gary Pallister, rested as a precaution with a slight knee injury, and played their orthodox 4-4-2 instead of the 3-5-2 with which they are more likely to contest the Champions League.

And as a contest, this was men against boys, the classy, instinctive play of a team that has grown up together running rings round Howard Wilkinson's weakened, re-assembled side that was England's entry just four years ago.

Lee Sharpe, the £4.5million summer exile from Old Trafford, and 35-year-old free transfer Ian Rush formed a makeshift spearhead in the absence of Yeboah and Deane.

But their task was uphill from the second minute when Ronny Johnsen, last week a midfielder, today a centre half, showed how all-pervading is the threat from Manchester.

Karel Poborsky's corner from the right gave him a free header, hacked off the line by Mark Ford straight back to the Norwegian. This time his volley flew towards the other post where Ian Harte was on guard.

He slashed at the ball but it flew just a couple of yards before hitting goalkeeper Nigel Martyn in the back and rebounding over the line.

Wilkinson admits this summer's takeover battles have left his rebuilding at least three signings short and it showed as United's clever passing forged huge holes in his defence.

A flying save from Crystal Palace capture Martyn denied Nicky Butt while Ryan Giggs missed a great chance from Poborsky's clever work on the right.

Jordi Cruyff how United welcome the Bosman ruling which lifts restrictions on their polyglot squad dipped a 22-yarder just over the bar.

Cantona, 10 successful conversions in the last two seasons and a double spot kick hero at Wembley three years ago, relished the chance to silence the fans who once adored him when David Wetherall tugged down the Dutchman in the 44th minute.

But whether careless or too careful, he rolled his penalty wide of the post as Martyn went the wrong way, his first miss in English football, though he also missed against Rangers in a pre-season friendly.

It did not matter as Leeds lost their concentration fatally three minutes after the break.

Gary Neville's iron-footed challenge robbed Harte and sent Poborsky on the sort of mazy run which thrilled Euro 96 audiences, the Czech beating two lunges before giving Butt the chance to beat Martyn from 14 yards.

A three-player injection did little for Leeds' resilience and England wonderkid David Beckham should have added a third, while Poborsky watched in frustration as his chip rolled inches wide of the far post after he also robbed Irish teenager Harte.

But in the 76th minute the long-haired winger wheeled away in celebration. Cantona set him up, rolling a perfectly-weighted pass through from the halfway line and his pace did the rest before a crisp shot from the edge of the box.

Leeds finished with spirit, Harte flashing a long-range shot just tipped over the bar by Schmeichel who was beaten by substitute Mark Hateley's header from the corner, but saved by his crossbar.

But the last word, inevitably, rested with Cantona, sneaking in at the back stick in added time for a difficult flick made to look simple from a long cross from the right.

It was too much for many Yorkshiremen, Leeds booed from the pitch amid desultory chants of ``Wilkinson Out''.