Leeds boss David O'Leary was sent off after watching Chelsea skipper Graeme Le Saux escape with only a caution following a two-footed lunge on Danny Mills during a fiercely-fought 0-0 draw at Elland Road today. O'Leary gave one of the assistant referees a verbal ear-bashing as the injury-time incident was less than two yards away from the official. But Portland referee Paul Durkin awarded a mere yellow, which led to the 43-year-old Irishman's fury and subsequent dismissal.
On the pitch, it was Mark Bosnich and Nigel Martyn who stole the show as both goalkeepers made stunning saves to ensure the two teams maintained their unbeaten records. 29-year-old Bosnich made some excellent saves to deny Mark Viduka, Rio Ferdinand and Harry Kewell, while at the other end Martyn saved well from a Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink shot, before securing the point for Leeds with an acrobatic stop from a late Emmanuel Petit free-kick.
After the match, O'Leary branded the challenge by Le Saux on Mills "disgraceful", and asked for more professional refereeing standards. "All I'm saying is to be a proper referee. Don't hand out cards for little niggles – these are the ones that need sorting out." O'Leary then denied that he verbally abused Durkin. "I lost my temper, but I'll have my say. I might have shouted in the heat of the moment, which I shouldn't do, but I didn't use foul and abusive language."
Earlier, Fulham and Ipswich played out 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage. Barry Hayles gave the home side the lead after 23 minutes before Jermaine Wright secured Ipswich a share of the spoils with a second half equaliser. At St James' Park, Tottenham Hotspur defeated Newcastle 2-0 with first half goals from Darren Anderton and Gustavo Poyet.
In Scotland, Rangers reduced Celtic's lead to seven points after their 2-0 victory over St Johnstone, with goals from Shoto Arveladze and Tore Andre Flo.
Filed by Tom Grealis
