Richard Dunne, Michael Duberry and Don Hutchison all saw red during a bitter Elland Road battle as Leeds' Champions League hopes finished bruised but not battered.

Referee Andy D'Urso gave the three players their marching orders during a volatile second half of an explosive encounter which spiralled out of control.

D'Urso also issued a rash of bookings, but the red and yellow card count could easily have been doubled as the Billericay official failed to punish several other crunching challenges.

D'Urso was the official berated by Manchester United skipper Roy Keane and chased across the Old Trafford pitch by a seething posse of Reds players after awarding Middlesbrough a penalty in a game between the two sides earlier this season.

His performance again came under intense scrutiny and left a lot to be desired, though his decisions in sending off the trio were at least correct as the game ended in hot-tempered fashion.

That was perhaps unsurprising as D'Urso made a rod for his own back with his inconsistency, which led to him being roundly booed and jeered by both sets of fans as he was escorted off the pitch by a cortege of stewards.

The opening half hour gave a clear indication of what was to follow in the second period as the full-blooded tackles arrived thick and fast, which led to bookings for Michael Ball and Duberry.

Duberry had already been warned by D'Urso for an earlier tackle on Mark Hughes, who was being booed by the Leeds fans every time he touched the ball simply for his former alliance with Manchester United.

Then came the deadlock-breaker as Michael Bridges fired Leeds in front with his 21st goal of the season, timing his run onto a raking 50-yard pass from Lee Bowyer to perfection.

After one touch, and while holding off the challenge of David Weir, he then drilled his 15-yard drive beyond the reach of Paul Gerrard.

The club record £5million Leeds paid for Bridges last summer was frowned upon by many United supporters, with even the 21-year-old admitting his capture had people saying "Michael who?"

But the money has since proved to be a princely sum well spent, particularly as it could still yet lead to a king's ransom given the riches on offer for a place amongst Europe's elite.

But the half then ended with further bookings for Welsh firebrand Hughes and Hutchison, before the second period then sparked into fury as Dunne - for the second time this season by D'Urso - and Duberry were sent off in a four-minute spell.

D'Urso had no choice but to give Dunne an early bath for a cynical challenge on Bridges from behind in the 50th minute, scything down the England Under-21 international with a two-footed tackle.

But moments later, the game then became 10-a-side as Duberry followed Dunne down the tunnel following another mis-timed challenge - this time on Pembridge in the 54th minute.

Then on the hour, Everton handed bitter Merseyside rivals Liverpool a Champions League lifeline, albeit thanks to a major gaffe from Nigel Martyn.

Liverpool are still vying with United for third place in the Premiership, and after Sunday's goalless draw at Anfield with Southampton, Leeds' fate was in their own hands.

Martyn, though, will regret his error as he came to meet Hutchison's piercing ball, but completely misjudged the bounce which led to a scramble with the chasing Nicky Barmby.

The midfielder had been forced wide by Martyn's sprawling challenge, but from an acute angle and with sub Alfie Haaland on the line, Barmby found the corner of the net for his 10th goal of the season.

David Unsworth then had his name taken, although he could also have seen red after what appeared to be a last man tackle on Harry Kewell.

As the game continued to boil, Ball was also lucky not to be sent off following a challenge which was just as ill-judged as the one which led to Duberry's dismissal.

But D'Urso wasn't done as he cautioned Stephen Hughes for what looked a fair tackle on Bowyer, which stupidly led to Hutchison picking the ball up and kicking it away before receiving his second yellow card for dissent - the fourth Everton player in three games to see red from this particular referee.

Amongst the mayhem, Leeds should have the won the game as they had the better chances through Eirik Bakke and the superb Kewell.

Although Leeds are guaranteed a place in Europe next season come what may, they are unsure whether Kewell will be available for the first round of whatever competition they will be competing in.

Leeds thought Kewell's impending ban following his sending off in the second leg of their UEFA Cup semi-final at home to Galatasaray had been overturned.

Secretary Ian Sylvester had made strong representations to European soccer's disciplinary committee, which included video evidence of his non-contact challenge with Gheorghe Popescu.

The Romanian international had been labelled "a cheat" by boss David O'Leary after the game, so it came as a relief when Kewell was cleared, even though the red card remained against his name.

But UEFA have decided the disciplinary panel did not have the power to overturn the decision, with Sylvester today confirming the matter is now being reviewed by the executive committee.

Regardless, Leeds' Champions League fate remains in their hands for as long as they match whatever result Liverpool achieve in the final game of the season - United at West Ham and the Reds at Bradford - then they will join Manchester United and Arsenal in European football's premier club competition.

Teams

Leeds: Martyn, Kelly, Duberry, Woodgate, Mills, Bowyer, Bakke, McPhail, Wilcox (Haaland 56), Bridges (Huckerby 80), Kewell.

Subs Not Used: Hopkin, Jones, Robinson.

Sent Off: Duberry (54).

Booked: Duberry.

Goals: Bridges 30.

Everton: Gerrard, Dunne, Unsworth, Weir, Ball, Pembridge (Ward 79), S. Hughes, Collins, Barmby, Hutchison, M. Hughes (Cadamarteri 73).

Subs Not Used: Jevons, Clarke, Simonsen.

Sent Off: Dunne (50), Hutchison (87).

Booked: Ball, M. Hughes, Hutchison, Unsworth, Barmby, S. Hughes.

Goals: Barmby 60.

Att: 37,713

Ref: A D'Urso (Billericay).