Milner's piece of history offers Leeds hope for the future

Sunderland 1 Leeds United

Howard Wilkinson spent the run-up to this fixture reflecting on the achievements of the young players he nurtured during his time at Elland Road. But not even he could claim credit for the development of James Milner, who was 10 when Wilkinson left Leeds.

When Milner, now aged 16 years and 357 days, slid in Jason Wilcox's low cross for Leeds' equaliser in the 50th minute, he became the Premiership's youngest scorer, eclipsing Wayne Rooney by four days, although it is unlikely to lead to an outbreak of Milnermania across the West Riding of Yorkshire.

The fact that he was on the pitch at all was not without its ironies, since Milner was brought on to replace Alan Smith, a genuine Elland Road hero, after he injured himself in a collision. Like Smith, Milner is a Yorkshire boy, from Horsforth, although, since he attended a rugby-playing school, the only way he could take part in his chosen sport was to join the Leeds Academy.

His goal and the coolly-taken penalty from Robbie Fowler which followed, considerably eased the pressure on his manager, Terry Venables, 59 years and 355 days old. Three games without defeat is hardly a benchmark of success for a club who sacked their manager ostensibly because they only finished fifth last season, but it seems unlikely Venables will be dragged into a relegation battle.

It says plenty for the poisonous atmosphere that continues to shroud Elland Road that Leeds have the best away record in the Premiership, although at no time yesterday did they really convince. Much of the first half was spent trying to find some semblance of shape, while, had Kevin Phillips converted one of the six chances that were flung his way, Sunderland would have won easily.

Leeds were undermined by the loss of Jonathan Woodgate to a training-ground injury, which forced Venables to pair two full-backs, Teddy Lucic and Danny Mills, at the heart of defence. Their inexperience showed, although Lucic cleared Tore Andre Flo's header off the line while Mills made several vital interceptions as Sunderland put together a display which Wilkinson described as their best and most complete since his arrival in October.

Sometimes, Sunderland even displayed a touch of panache when going forward, although they had only Michael Proctor's superbly-taken first-half header, which cannoned in from the underside of the crossbar, to show for their efforts.

The Liverpool manager, Gérard Houllier, remarked that there is nothing worse than playing well and losing, although Wilkinson considered it a sight better than performing abjectly and being stuffed out of sight, as they were by Manchester City at the start of the month.

"We can either choose to remember the result or the performance," he said. "The crowd's reaction was encouraging and if we have any sense we will carry it to our beds. We carry the ghosts of bad performances, after all."

It is hard to know whether Phillips should be praised for returning to the jaunty aggression that marked his best times for Sunderland or for failing to find the net in the manner he did before falling prey to injuries and lack of service. The spring that sent Kevin Kilbane's first-half cross on to the crossbar could have been from two years ago, but he found Paul Robinson an impenetrable barrier. "I don't apologise that our keeper kept us in it," Venables said. "It's what he's paid to do."

Sunderland (4-4-2): Macho 6, Wright 4, Craddock 5, Babb 5, Gray 6, Proctor 7 (Stewart, 82), McCann 5, Thirlwell 6 (McCartney, 82), Kilbane 7, Flo 5 (Kyle, 82), Phillips 8. Substitutes not used: Bjorklund, Ingham (gk).

Leeds United (4-4-2): Robinson 8, Kelly 6, Mills 7, Lucic 3, Harte 4 (Duberry 4, 58), Smith 6 (Milner 7, 38), Okon 5, Bakke 5, Wilcox 6, Kewell 6, Viduka 6 (Fowler, 77). Substitutes not used: Johnson, Martyn (gk).

Referee: M Dean (The Wirral) 6.