Sport: Leeds keep up pressure on United

Two goals from Michael Bridges kept Leeds hot on the heels of leaders Manchester United, after a hard fought 2-1 victory over relegation contenders Bradford City. Leading 2-0 at Valley Parade with only 15 minutes remaining, David O'Leary's men then had to scrap it out after a magnificent 25-yard goal from City's Peter Beagrie.

Leeds' leading scorer Bridges grabbed his 16th and 17th goals of the season on a day when Neville Southall stepped back onto the Premiership stage. Southall, recently signed on a non-contract basis, was making his 978th appearance both at domestic and international level. At 41 he became one of the oldest goalkeepers to play Premiership football - with John Burridge the record holder at 43 while with Manchester City five years ago.

The former Wales international had initially enjoyed a quiet opening 12 minutes before one of his first tasks was to pick the ball out of the net as Leeds took the lead in the 13th minute. Ian Harte whipped in a curling free kick to the far post and Bridges chested the ball past Southall's despairing dive. Just seven minutes later Leeds should have buried Bradford as Bridges combined with Stephen McPhail to set up the easiest of chances for Alan Smith from seven yards, but he sliced his side-footed shot wide.

As the Bantams searched for an equaliser, while also defending an unbeaten home record in the League since early September, their best chance came in the 28th minute. Peter Beagrie's corner picked out centre-back and former Leeds star David Wetherall for a downward far post header into the path of Dean Windass. But the City striker miscued from close range, and as the ball looped up in the air, Dean Saunders hooked his overhead kick wide.

But then just after the hour, and against the run of play, Leeds and Bridges grabbed their second to take a commanding lead. Harte initially started the move with a ball out wide to Wilcox, with the winger's delivery into the heart of the six-yard area hitting Bowyer. As Southall came to claim, the ball ricocheted to Smith and the teenager picked out Bridges, who teed up his shot before scooping the ball into the top corner of the net.

Then with 15 minutes remaining, Bradford grabbed a lifeline when Beagrie struck a stunning 25-yard shot following a free-kick - the first goal Leeds had conceded for 470 minutes. Within an instant, however, Leeds could have restored their two-goal cushion, but an 18-yard drive from substitute David Hopkin was narrowly past the right-hand post. Bradford pressured Leeds for the remaining minutes but Leeds weathered the storm to cling on to victory.