'MILNERMANIA' is threatening to envelop Elland Road.Teenager James Milner sprang off the bench to seal Leeds United's first Premiership victory on home soil with a cracking goal in the 2-0 win over title-chasing Chelsea.

It was his second strike inside three days after coming on as sub in the 2-1 Boxing Day win at Sunderland and has breathed new life in to United's season.

The youngster, who turns 17 next Saturday, showed no fear of big reputations amid the highly-paid Chelsea ranks.

The Horsforth-born Academy product, who earns just £80 a week, frequently tormented the tightest defence in the Premiership with his speed and skill after coming on for the injured Harry Kewell.

Chelsea had looked anything but secure against United's counter-attack tactics with Kewell's ferocious drive bringing a fine save from Ed de Goey, who then had to be alert to tip over Alan Smith's header from Jason Wilcox's corner.

United made the breakthrough on 23 minutes when Chelsea were caught sleeping when Gary Kelly played a quickly-taken corner on the right to Wilcox, who curled the ball in for Jonathan Woodgate to head in his first goal for two years.

United's joy was tempered with the immediate loss of a limping Kewell, who had posed Chelsea's right flank all kinds of problems.

But Milner, who deposed Everton's Wayne Rooney as the Premiership's youngest

goalscorer at the Stadium of Light, guaranteed himself hero status by taking Mark Viduka's pass just before half-time, turning away from World Cup winner Marcel Desailly and despatching a stunning shot past de Goey

Much-criticised Leeds boss Terry Venables got his tactics spot-on for this game and deserves praise for giving Milner a chance at a time when United's campaign seemed on the point of collapse.

Second-placed Chelsea had plenty of possession but as the Leeds midfield dropped back to form a screen in front of the makeshift back four, which featured Danny Mills alongside Woodgate at centre-back, their early best efforts came through set-pieces.

Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri, who took flak for making six team changes for the goal-less Boxing Day clash with Southampton, made seven more for the trip to Elland Road.

He reshuffled his side again at the interval putting on ex-Leeds favourite Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink and midfielder Enrique De Lucas, but still found it difficult to break down the Leeds rearguard. Eidur Gudjohnsen was off target with his shooting and De Lucas shot wide from a good position after the Icelander's header set him free in the box.

Generally, Paul Robinson, in the Leeds goal, was not called upon to perform heroics as he has been in recent matches as Leeds put on their best home display of the season. United have gleaned ten points out of the last 12 and although they still have much work to do they have put some daylight between themselves and the bottom four.

That run has dovetailed with the arrival of Paul Okon as midfield anchor. The 30-year-old Aussie is not the most mobile of players and still has to win over many fans who feel old hero David Batty could do a better job.

But in his own quiet way his defensive presence has given Leeds a much better shape in recent matches although he still needs to provide more positive passing when in advanced positions.

DESPITE their recent improvement Leeds United will be glad to see the back of 2002.

They have gone from being the best side in terms of Premiership results in the calendar year 2001 to one of the worst in 2002.

Ill discipline, on and off the pitch, injuries and a lack of form have all taken their toll on a United squad who kicked off the year on top of the Premiership with a 3-0 home win over West Ham but are now down in 13th place, having won only half the points they managed in 2001.

2001

P39 W26 D12 L4 F68 A35 Pts 90

2002

P39 W16 D7 L16 F51 A48 Pts 45

Match Facts:

Barclaycard Premiership Leeds United 2, Chelsea 0 (at Elland Road)

Leeds United: Robinson, Kelly, Woodgate, Mills, Lucic, Smith, Okon, Bakke (Johnson 85), Wilcox, Kewell (Milner 23), Viduka (Fowler 83). Subs (not used): Martyn, Duberry. Cautions: Smith, Okon. Goals: Woodgate 30, Milner 45

Chelsea: de Goey, Ferrer (De Lucas HT), Desailly, Gallas, Le Saux, Gronkjaer (Hasselbaink HT), Lampard, Morris, Stanic, Zola, Gudjohnsen. Subs (not used): Pidgley, Babayaro, Terry.

Referee: Graham Barber (Hertfordshire)

Attendance: 40,123

Updated: 11:17 Monday, December 30, 2002