If this was a foretaste of life without Jonathan Woodgate and Robbie Fowler, then no wonder Terry Venables is desperate for the shutters to close on the January sales.

With Fowler and Woodgate absent amid continuing speculation over their futures, Leeds looked to have given their boss a welcome respite from the frustrations of his board's apparent determination to sell off the family silver.

Indeed, with 12 minutes left, they were still ahead after Teddy Lucic had earlier restored the lead once Eidur Gudjohnsen's superb overhead kick had cancelled out Harry Kewell's early opener.

But then, without Woodgate's calming influence at the back, Leeds somehow managed to commit a very public version of defensive suicide at Stamford Bridge.

Firstly, Frank Lampard was given space in which to hit a deflected shot past Paul Robinson and then Dominic Matteo conspired to put the ball into his own net with just seven minutes left.

It was harsh on Leeds as, for all of Chelsea's far greater attacking pressure, the Yorkshire side had still produced a gutsy display with their backs against the financial wall.

No wonder Venables is so opposed to yet more of his resources being sold off to balance the books. It is a harsh and unforgiving game, indeed.

Chelsea made most of the early inroads, with Lampard and Jody Morris both threatening, but Leeds were by no means being outplayed in a game littered with simple passing errors.

Indeed, when Mark Viduka flicked on a high free-kick, John Terry misjudged the flight and Kewell was able to nip in to volley past the exposed figure of Carlo Cudicini.

Back came Chelsea. Paul Robinson made an excellent double save from Graeme Le Saux and Gudjohnsen, while Morris was unable to keep his shot on target as the goal beckoned invitingly.

There was more bluster than finesse, however, with a timebomb seemingly waiting to go on the flank which pitted Le Saux against Alan Smith.

With Jesper Gronkjaer curling the ball wide and penalty appeals against Paul Okon being waved away, Chelsea pressed without reward.

However, they deserved little more due to a strange lack of impetus and, with a subdued Celestine Babayaro being replaced on 35 minutes by striker Carlton Cole, that led to a switch to a 3-5-2 formation.

Cole was quickly involved, although in a scuffle with Danny Mills rather than any goalmouth action, and he was soon followed into the book by Le Saux as he kicked the ball away in frustration.

Chelsea continued to dominate possession after the interval but were still struggling to produce any quality service from the flanks.

Cole did manage to bundle his way past Mills and Gary Kelly but then chipped his shot over the bar and it was not until Lampard charged down the right flank that they managed to equalise.

Gudjohnsen was still standing with his back to goal, about 12 yards out, when the ball arrived in mid-air, but he still produced a sublime overhead kick that flew past Robinson on 56 minutes.

While Chelsea's thoughts immediately turned to winning the game, that was reckoning without Leeds' response.

Cudicini denied Kewell and Viduka but there was nothing that he could do to prevent Leeds restoring their lead as Chelsea's defence failed to cope with a straightforward corner.

Smith's low delivery should have been cleared but instead Kewell was able to flick the ball across goal and full-back Lucic was there to force the ball home from close range on 65 minutes.

Robinson managed to save Gallas's flick header but the fates conspired against Leeds with 11 minutes left as Chelsea managed to level for a second time.

Robinson could only push Boudewijn Zenden's cross out and with a miscued clearance falling to Lampard, his return effort seemingly deflected off both Mills and Matteo before squeezing inside the far post.

If that was bad, far worse was to follow just three minutes later as Lampard delivered a low cross-shot which Matteo had all the time in the world to clear.

If only. The Leeds defender instead contrived to miscue his attempted clearance into his own net and Leeds were behind for the first time in the game.

With Cudicini denying Kewell, there was no comeback for the Yorkshire side. January has, indeed, been a cruel month for Venables. It could yet get worse, however.

Teams;

Chelsea: Cudicini, Babayaro (Cole 35), Desailly, Terry, Gallas, Le Saux, Morris, Lampard, Gronkjaer, Gudjohnsen, Zola (Zenden 67).

Subs Not Used: de Goey, Melchiot, Petit.

Booked: Cole, Le Saux.

Goals: Gudjohnsen 57, Lampard 80, Matteo 83 og.

Leeds: Robinson, Kelly, Mills, Matteo, Lucic, Wilcox, Bakke, Okon (Seth Johnson 68), Smith, Viduka (Milner 80), Kewell.

Subs Not Used: Martyn, Harte, Radebe.

Booked: Bakke.

Goals: Kewell 18, Lucic 66.

Att: 39,738

Ref: J Winter (Cleveland).