On a day of potentially decisive turning-points in both the title race and the career of David Beckham, Manchester United produced an accomplished performance to stretch their Premiership lead against closest rivals Leeds.

Whether Beckham's omission from even the bench in the wake of reports of a training-ground bust-up with Sir Alex Ferguson has any long-term repercussions for his future at Old Trafford remains to be seen.

But the effects of United's carefully-crafted win at Elland Road on the destination of the championship seem somewhat more certain.

No title race is decided in mid-February and there are still 13 games left, yet Andy Cole's 52nd-minute strike - his 100th goal for the club - took the visitors six points clear of Leeds, with Liverpool and Arsenal lagging even further behind.

And it was not just Cole's goal which separated the two sides at Elland Road amid a largely non-confrontational atmosphere following a week of disciplinary controversy.

While Lee Bowyer missed a gaping open goal from just five yards out in the closing stages and Mark Bosnich was called upon to deny Ian Harte on several occasions, the visitors dominated large periods of the game through their control of central midfield.

And then there was Beckham - or rather, there wasn't Beckham.

The England winger had been left out of the squad amid reports of a training ground row with Ferguson on Saturday after apparently missing Friday's session.

Yet whatever the reasons - official or otherwise - behind his absence and whatever significance this may carry for Kevin Keegan's plans against Argentina or the midfielder's long-term future at Old Trafford, United managed to cope without him.

Paul Scholes filled in on the right side, depriving the visitors of width on that flank but strengthening their grip on central midfield, especially in the second-half.

Earlier on, United - with Dwight Yorke limping off after just 30 minutes on a whistle-stop break from international duty - had struggled to make an impact and did not have a single shot on target in the first-half.

Apart from the darting runs of Harry Kewell, Leeds' main weapon was full-back Ian Harte's left-boot.

After troubling Mark Bosnich with a low dead-ball effort, the Irishman then produced a much fiercer free-kick which the keeper superbly tipped around the post.

Harte also fired in a 30-yard shot from open play which flew only a couple of feet wide, but apart from an off-target Scholes snap-shot and Kewell dispossessing Jaap Stam only to find himself with no support, that was about it for first-half goalmouth action.

Overall, it was a very low-key opening to a game of such importance, with both teams seemingly intent on such good behaviour that they forgot about injecting enough passion and drive into their displays.

It may have taken Roy Keane just two minutes to contest a refereeing decision but official Peter Jones' softly-softly approach was being mirrored by the players.

The spirit of goodwill was at its most generous just before half-time as however badly-delivered Harte's three successive corners were, Yorke's replacement Teddy Sheringham merely hit the ball behind to give his opponent another chance.

However, the pace of the game changed after the interval and once Bowyer had missed his kick completely in front of goal, the visitors struck on the counter-attack with clinical efficiency - straight through the middle of the Leeds defence.

Scholes played a long ball forward which Cole lifted over the top of Lucas Radebe and he then sped past the Leeds defender, held off a final despairing challenge on the edge of the penalty area and finished with aplomb past Nigel Martyn.

The Leeds keeper was similarly exposed only a couple of minutes later as Keane ghosted his way past Radebe and Jonathan Woodgate into the area to strike a shot which - fortunately for Leeds - deflected off Martyn's shoulder onto the post.

Suddenly, it was game on and back came Leeds, stung into action by their defensive slips, with Bosnich again saving a curling free-kick from Harte and Eirik Bakke thudding a header against the crossbar from a corner.

With much more room for manoeuvre on offer, both defences were under increasing pressure and Scholes was able to push further inside as Sheringham pulled out wide and United attempted to establish a stranglehold on the game.

Scholes was still able to find space at the far post to almost slip a volley beneath Martyn, while Gary Neville also struck the side-netting and Nicky Butt saw a shot parried.

But while Leeds also still posed a threat, it was simply not their day in front of goal.

After skipping elegantly around two challenges, Kewell managed to fire in a cross-shot which flew just wide, while another delivery from the left flank was deflected against the face of the crossbar.

And then, when Bosnich could only parry Jason Wilcox's low cross and Alan Smith struck the inside post from a tight angle, the ball rebounded to Bowyer with an open goal ahead of him.

Standing just five yards out, he had time to control the ball but instead he leant back and hoisted his shot way over the bar.

Smith also headed over the bar as Keane covered tremendously for Stam in the dying seconds - but United's class and experience enabled them to hold on.

The title race is not over just yet but this result has taken United one large step closer to proving David O'Leary's insistence that his team are not ready to win the championship correct.

Teams

Leeds: Martyn, Kelly, Radebe, Woodgate, Harte, Bakke, Bowyer, Jones, Wilcox, Smith, Kewell.

Subs Not Used: Haaland, Hopkin, Huckerby, Mills, Robinson.

Booked: Kewell, Jones.

Man Utd: Bosnich, G. Neville, Stam, Silvestre, Irwin, Scholes, Keane, Butt, Giggs, Yorke (Sheringham 30), Cole.

Subs Not Used: P. Neville, Cruyff, Berg, Van Der Gouw.

Booked: Irwin, Stam.

Goals: Cole 52.

Att: 40,160

Ref: P Jones (Loughborough).