19/12/1999 Chelsea 0 Leeds 2 The obituaries for Chelsea's title challenge are being prepared even before Christmas after David O'Leary's increasingly battle-hardened young Leeds side came of age in a tempestuous encounter at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea now lie an incredible 17 points behind leaders Leeds and they ended a fiery confrontation in almost complete disarray after 20-year-old Stephen McPhail's first two senior goals and yet another red card for Frank Leboeuf. In contrast, while the tackles and yellow cards were flying around, Leeds produced a display which made it seem as if a new era was dawning in the Premiership. For while Chelsea may still pose a challenge in the Champions League, it is now surely O'Leary's side who will threaten Manchester United and Arsenal for the domestic title. The Leeds youngsters showed commendable maturity as they coped with everything that Chelsea's experienced internationals threw at them - both legally and illegally - with Jonathon Woodgate in superlative form alongside Lucas Radebe. Having soaked up all of the home side's early pressure, they hit back decisively through McPhail after 66 minutes and were then able to enjoy a relatively trouble-free final 20 minutes against 10 men before the young midfielder struck again late on. Chelsea meanwhile ended the game with diminutive full-back Albert Ferrer and striker Chris Sutton in central defence after Marcel Desailly and substitute Jes Hogh were both taken off injured before Leboeuf self-destructed yet again. The Frenchman, who was sent off at Elland Road last season, fouled Harry Kewell twice in the space of just seven minutes and stamped on the winger's ankle after the second offence. His angry yet unfounded protestations of innocence continued on his way off the pitch as, red-faced with anger rather than embarrassment, he almost squared up to the Leeds dugout on the touchline. It was entirely undignified but the Frenchman had no reasonable cause for complaint - and neither did Gianluca Vialli, who will find himself under renewed pressure after this result. This was a match which Chelsea simply had to win to re-ignite their faltering domestic challenge yet they patently failed to cope with the rough-house atmosphere which seems to be regularly served up when these two sides meet in a throwback to the 1970s. It took just one minute for the first yellow card to be shown, with Lee Bowyer picking up his 10th caution of the season - and a ban - for fouling Dennis Wise, with whom he had initially clashed after only 15 seconds. From the ensuing free-kick, Sutton - preferred to Gianfranco Zola in the starting line-up - flicked a header just wide and that was the cue for a concerted early spell of Chelsea pressure. With Wise and Didier Deschamps bossing the central midfield and youngster Jon Harley showing huge promise at left-back - yes, a left-footed Englishman with ability - the Blues had a number of half-chances. However, Leboeuf volleyed at Nigel Martyn, Deschamps drove just wide, Gustavo Poyet and Wise were also off target and that was about it. Leeds duly started to force themselves back into reckoning and Chelsea became increasingly predictable in attack as they were forced to take aim from long-range with any width in scarce supply. The visitors' share of possession therefore grew, while the fiery competitiveness of Bowyer and Wise was still bubbling ominously under the surface. When the Leeds midfielder played on even though Desailly needed treatment on the edge of the penalty box, the Chelsea captain came forehead to forehead with Bowyer to make his views known before order was at least temporarily restored. At the interval, Jes Hogh came on for Desailly and Chelsea immediately went on the offensive only for Martyn to produce a superb dive to save to deny Wise's header from close range. Leeds were forced into a more fundamental reshuffle shortly afterwards when Bridges had to be replaced by Jason Wilcox and the debutant was stationed on the left flank, with Kewell moving up front. Stephen McPhail, Erik Bakke and Poyet all required treatment as the tackles continued to fly in and Flo tumbled over under Gary Kelly's challenge but penalty appeals were rightly waved away. That was the Norwegian's final contribution as Gianfranco Zola was introduced into the fray and the Italian soon had to be joined on the pitch by Petrescu as Hogh's hamstring suddenly went, with Ferrer switching to central defence. Chelsea had threatened intermittently before then, with Martyn saving from Leboeuf and Roberto Di Matteo firing wide when well placed, but in Hogh's absence, they were disorganised at the back at the crucial moment. The game was soon beyond them when Kewell seemed to be tripped but play was waved on, Bowyer cut the ball back and McPhail arrived unmarked to stroke his first-time shot past Ed De Goey. With Leboeuf being sent off shortly afterwards and Chelsea struggling to regain their composure or shape, they posed little threat of a comeback and duly went 2-0 down with just a couple of minutes left. The award of a free-kick was debatable yet McPhail swung in a dead-ball effort which De Goey failed to react to as it sped through a group of players and into the far corner. Deschamps and O'Leary were involved in an angry exchange at the final whistle but the satisfied smile had soon returned to the face of the Leeds boss.