Soccer: Leeds star Mills' warning to Reds

Danny Mills has warned Manchester United they face a Leeds side who will come out firing on all cylinders in a bid to end their 20-year Old Trafford jinx on Saturday.

Mills says Leeds are ‘‘full of confidence’’ ahead of the high-noon showdown as the FA Barclaycard Premiership leaders face reigning champions United in an early-season battle for league supremacy.

Leeds put the only remaining unbeaten top-flight record on the line at a ground where they have failed to win since 1981, a miserable run of 10 defeats and four draws in which they have scored just six goals.

Three defeats in three visits is the stark statistic since David O’Leary took charge, in fact no Leeds boss has ever left Old Trafford during Sir Alex Ferguson’s glorious 15-season reign with a victory under their belt.

But Leeds could not have a better chance to finally break such a hoodoo given the indifferent form of Fergie’s side this season, both at home and abroad, underlined by the 2-1 defeat at home to Bolton last Saturday.

Mills, the victim of a two-footed lunge from Graeme Le Saux during Sunday’s bitter goalless draw against Chelsea at Elland Road which caused such a storm of controversy, could have been forgiven for staying out of the spotlight.

But a determined Mills, with Leeds having lost just one of their previous 25 league games, said: ‘‘We’ve had a good week to prepare and rest up so hopefully we’ll come out all guns blazing on Saturday.

‘‘We’re going there full of confidence as we’re still top of the table, and we will be aiming to stay top of the table.

‘‘Although Manchester United are not as dominant this season as they were at the back end of last season, they still have fantastic players who can turn it on at any time.

‘‘Every player in their squad is capable of doing something that little bit special to turn a game, and they are a team that play and let you play.

‘‘Their philosophy is ‘you score three and we’ll score four’ but we will go out believing we can win.’’

Leeds midfielder Eirik Bakke, who is close friends with United striker and fellow Norwegian Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, also believes it is pay-back time.

Despite the woeful run at Old Trafford, Leeds have also not beaten United at Elland Road since 1997, although only the intervention of a linesman last season denied O’Leary and his players a priceless victory.

‘‘I know it is a long time since Leeds won at Old Trafford,’’ said Bakke, whose form has been good enough to keep David Batty out of the side.

‘‘Last season we had a weakened team, but the year before we played well and could have won the game, while we were very disappointed not to have beaten them at home last season so perhaps we owe them one.

‘‘But they are the best team in the country and probably in Europe. They are so big now they can buy players for £25million to boost an already unbelievable squad.

‘‘We know it is going to be hard but we feel we have a great chance and I’m sure our strikers can give them a hard time. If we keep the recent form up I think we can give them a good game.’’