Nicky Butt crashed home a wonderful winner 12 minutes from time to give Manchester United victory in a thrilling battle with their arch rivals.

Ian Brown reports (BBC Radio 5 Live)

Leeds, who had not scored in their last six visits to Old Trafford, were impressive throughout and were unlucky not to claim a point from a typically bruising encounter.

But in a game that was full of goalscoring opportunities Alex Ferguson's men produced the most clinical finishing and moved back into second place in the Premiership.

Butt scores the winner for Manchester Utd

The surprise though was that all three of United's goals came from midfielders and not the in-form front pairing of Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke.

Cole was a busy man early on, but he was twice denied by saves from Nigel Martyn.

Magnificent Martyn denies Butt

Kewell pulls back for Leeds 2 all

But the visiting keeper was called into more meaningful action in the 26th minute, when Phil Neville crossed from the left and Nicky Butt's powerful header seemed destined for the top right-hand corner.

Somehow Martyn managed one of the saves of the season, clawing the ball away after a magnicent dive - but in the process he collided with the post and appeared to jar his back.

Keane puts Utd up 2-1

Martyn's efforts seemed to inspire his team and four minutes later they were in front from their first meaningful attack.

There seemed to be no danger as Hasselbaink drifted towards the left-hand edge of the area, with Phil Neville and Roy Keane ahead of him.

Yorke charges at the heart of the Leeds defence

But the Dutchman cut inside and in the same movement unleashed a stunning low shot that snaked past a diving Peter Schmeichel and went in off the near post for his fifth goal in five games.

Martyn, now in obvious discomfort, shrugged off his back injury with another great save from Butt in the 36th minute, as he diverted a low shot with his legs.

In first half injury time Yorke ran at the heart of the Leeds defence and slipped the ball to makeshift left-winger Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who fired a low left-footed angled drive past Martyn and into the far corner.

Solskjaer equalised for Utd

Martyn failed to reappear for the second half and was replaced by 19-year-old understudy Paul Robinson.

And his first touch as keeper was to pick the ball out of the net - because within 30 seconds of the restart United were ahead. Paul Scholes roared past Ian Harte into the area and crossed for Keane to blast an eight-yard effort into the roof of the net.

Kewell keeps his cool

But the lead did not last long. Six minutes later United's teenage defender Wes Brown was caught in possession and Harry Kewell, who should have scored in the first half from a similar position, bore down on Schmeichel's goal and beat the big Dane with a low shot.

Hasselbaink puts Leeds 1 up

Tempers became frayed when Keane went down in the box under a challenge from Alf Inge Haaland - whose clash with the Irish midfielder last season led to Keane's long-term injury - but the referee waved away the penalty claims.

Kewell should have scored his second 15 minutes from time when Hasselbaink sent him through, but his right-foot drive hit the side netting.

Hasselbaink shakes off the attentions of Keane, Butt and Scholes

Robinson then palmed away a point-blank effort from Keane to deny the midfielder a repeat of his earlier goal.

But with the Leeds defence sitting back, the home side struck the decisive blow in the 78th minute.

Phil Neville played a square ball across the edge of the box and Butt swivelled to fire an excellent rising drive past Robinson.

Leeds desperately surged forward in search of one final equaliser, but United, with fit-again Ryan Giggs playing the dying minutes, held on to secure a flattering victory.

Teams:

Man Utd: Schmeichel, G Neville, Stam, Butt, Cole, P Neville, Keane, Scholes, Yorke, Solskjaer, Brown. Subs: Sheringham, Giggs, Van Der Gouw, Berg, Curtis.

Leeds: Martyn, Haaland, Hasselbaink, Ribeiro, Hopkin, Halle, Kewell, Harte, Hiden, Woodgate, McPhail. Subs: Wetherall, Wijnhard, Granville, Robinson, Smith.