McAteer lands killer blow for Black Cats

Leeds 0 Sunderland 1

Leeds’ hopes of making an instant return to the top of the Premiership, after being deposed by Arsenal last night following a 100%, two-match winning start to the season, foundered on frustration and a rare Jason McAteer strike.

Venables warned ahead of the game that while the signs were promising after taking over from the sacked David O’Leary early last month, there was still much work needed to be done for Leeds to be considered serious title challengers this season.

His words rang true on a night when Sunderland won their first league game at Leeds since February 1961, a 4-2 victory when the legendary Brian Clough was in the team.

Prior to the start of the season, Reid was strong favourite to become the Premier League’s first managerial casualty of the season, with such status seeming justified following his side’s opening two results.

A draw at Blackburn was creditable enough, but that was followed by a poor 1-0 Stadium of Light defeat to Everton on Saturday, and it appeared as if the knives were being sharpened.

With Leeds beating newcomers Manchester City 3-0 and West Brom 3-1, Sunderland were being touted as lambs to the slaughter, as well as remarkable 11-2 outsiders to simply triumph in this part of Yorkshire.

In truth, they stifled the life out of Leeds and the match during a first half when they played with 10 men behind the ball, leaving Kevin Phillips a spectator along with the rest of the crowd.

Leeds went into the break frustrated, and just 28 seconds following it, they were caught cold as Thomas Butler nipped in to dispossess Harry Kewell before knocking in a cross for Phillips to nod into the path of McAteer.

From six yards, the Republic of Ireland international was left with the simple task of beating Paul Robinson for his third Black Cats goal since leaving Blackburn last October.

While his players celebrated breaking their goal drought, Reid sat impassively, perhaps realising he cannot go through the season with his side living on the edge as they did against Leeds.

LEEDS: Robinson, Mills, Radebe, Matteo, Harte, Bowyer, Bakke (Dacourt 54), Barmby (Keane 54), Kewell, Smith, Viduka.

SUNDERLAND: Sorensen, Wright, Babb, Bjorklund, Gray, Piper (Arca 75), McAteer, Reyna, Thirlwell, Butler, Phillips (Kyle 77).

Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire)