Leeds stunned Manchester United with their first league win at Old Trafford since 1981 as they took a giant stride towards safety on a bad night for Michael Carrick’s side.
Minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe sat stony-faced in the directors’ box as Manchester United produced a chronic first-half display.
They improved after half-time but only after Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez, returning after two months out through injury, was sent off for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair.
Noah Okafor put the visitors in front with a clinical first-time effort after just five minutes and had Leeds two ahead by half-time with a shot that flicked off Leny Yoro and into the corner.
Martinez’s dismissal following a video assistant referee (VAR) intervention seemed to spark the hosts and Casemiro pulled one back for Manchester United as Bruno Fernandes produced his 17th assist of the season – three short of the Premier League record for a single campaign.
A man down, they kept pushing for an equaliser and Benjamin Sesko was denied twice in a minute thanks to a save from goalkeeper Karl Darlow and Calvert-Lewin’s goalline clearance.
The leveller eluded them though as they suffered the first home defeat of Carrick’s time in charge.
It means they go to Chelsea on Saturday, a game Harry Maguire might yet miss through suspension, knowing defeat will leave them four points ahead of Leroy Rosenior’s erratic team with five games remaining.
Leeds, meanwhile, host bottom side Wolves at Elland Road, before any of their relegation rivals are in action again, knowing if they win they will be nine points clear of the drop zone.
