30/01/2002  Chelsea 2 Leeds 0
 
If the script for the title race is already shaping up 
fascinatingly, the sub-plot for the Champions League places is 
no less gripping.

Chelsea and Leeds still maintain they are in the hunt for 
the ultimate prize despite Manchester United's clear 
advantage, but a top-four finish would appear to be the limit 
of their ambitions.

Indeed, for Chelsea, who are sixth, even that scenario may 
have seemed unlikely if they had lost at home to fifth-placed 
Leeds, especially with Arsenal, Newcastle and Liverpool all 
victorious.

However, in a display completely - but perhaps 
characteristically - at odds with their abject surrender at 
Tottenham last week, they outplayed one of their chief rivals 
with a performance of heart and resolve.

Indeed, with his side hauled back into the pack and four 
points off even fourth place, Leeds boss David O'Leary could 
add wounded pride to the two black eyes he is sporting after a 
nose operation.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink may still not have scored against 
his former club in five attempts, but Eidur Gudjohnsen, whose 
partner gave birth to their second child on Tuesday, took just 
95 seconds to give Chelsea the lead.

There was more controversy over Chelsea's second goal as 
the ball struck Sam dalla Bona's arm before he beat Nigel 
Martyn.

However, the outcome was never in any major doubt and, 
thankfully, there were also no real unsavoury incidents, even 
if Jason Wilcox could easily have been sent off for two 
bookable offences.

In their Worthington Cup thrashing by Spurs last week, 
Chelsea were second to every loose ball and showed a worrying 
lack of desire.

Against West Ham in the FA Cup last weekend, they also 
conceded a late equaliser. But they are not known as the 
league's most inconsistent side for nothing.

Against a strangely off-colour Leeds side, Chelsea hustled 
their opponents out of their stride, and that was against a 
midfield containing David Batty and Lee Bowyer.

While Mario Stanic was their chief inspiration, Emmanuel 
Petit was also showing long-overdue signs of his best 
form.

And the midfield duo combined in the build-up to the first 
goal within two minutes of the kick-off as they teed up 
Gudjohnsen, who produced a sublime first-time finish as he 
curled the ball into the top corner.

Despite a muddy pitch that ill-befitted a match of this 
status, Chelsea continued to exert pressure on the visitors' 
goal as dalla Bona, Stanic and Hasselbaink all came close.

But when they did make another breakthrough, it was amid 
some controversy.

When Mario Melchiot's long-throw was chested down by 
Hasselbaink, Wilcox's attempted clearance struck dalla Bona's 
arm before the Italian managed to control the loose ball.

Left foot followed left arm as he bundled a shot past 
Martyn and Leeds protested furiously, with Wilcox being 
booked.

The anger of their fans was intensified by the unwise 
decision to replay the goal - and the handball - to the crowd 
on a giant video screen.

But while their problems continued as Seth Johnson limped 
off to be replaced by Robbie Keane, Wilcox was fortunate to 
escape a second booking from either of two late tackles.

With Ian Harte also on for Woodgate at the break, while 
Harry Kewell later joined the fray, Leeds still struggled to 
establish any foothold in the game.

Gary Kelly's long-range shot was parried by Carlo Cudicini 
but otherwise there were was little real threat to the Chelsea 
goal as John Terry led the back line superbly.

While Gudjohnsen was a couple of yards off-target from the 
halfway line and Lampard's volley also flashed past the far 
post, Leeds' only real chance of a fightback vanished with six 
minutes left.

Cudicini spilled a relatively tame effort from Kewell, but 
the Chelsea keeper recovered just in time to deflect Mark 
Viduka's follow-up effort wide.

And that was it as O'Leary's nose was effectively put out 
of joint for the second time in a week. This, however, will 
undoubtedly have been the more painful blow.