Manchester United took a giant step towards retaining their Premiership title as Steve Guppy's second-half winner doomed nearest challengers Leeds United to defeat at Filbert Street.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side are now seven points clear of Leeds with just eight games remaining - and on their current form it is hard to see them relinquishing such an advantage.

Stan Collymore's fourth goal in five games set City on their way to victory and all Leeds could manage was a solitary reply from Harry Kewell.

For Leeds it might have been a case of one game too far after their gruelling programme which culminated in Thursday's UEFA Cup semi-final, second leg against Sparta Prague as they seldom produced their best form.

Leicester looked as if they had finally awoken from the hangover evident in their performances against Wimbledon and Manchester United since the transfer of Emile Heskey to Liverpool for £11million.

The impressive Collymore was a constant threat up front and playing on Sundays at Filbert Street clearly appeals to him after his hat-trick on his home debut against Sunderland exactly three weeks ago.

In midfield Robbie Savage was an inspiration with his never-say-die approach while Muzzy Izzet provided the craft and Neil Lennon did an effective holding job.

And at the back Gerry Taggart gave further confirmation that he is in the best form of his career with a solid display and several vital challenges.

Leeds, in contrast, lacked much of the zip and flair that has been the trademark of their performances this season.

They only spasmodically flickered into life - chiefly through Kewell who hit the target for the fourth successive match. Leeds must be sick of the sight of City after being knocked out of the Worthington Cup by them this season.

Leicester, bidding for their first victory since selling Heskey, began brightly and came close to taking the lead after only three minutes.

Leeds skipper Lucas Radebe brought down Darren Eadie on the edge of the area and Izzet played a short free-kick into the path of Collymore.

His rising shot was too powerful for Nigel Martyn to hold onto but Eadie, still searching for his first goal since his £3million move from Norwich, put the rebound wide.

But Collymore was not to be denied and in the 14th minute he gave Leicester the lead. Izzet latched onto a pass from Savage and then slipped the ball into the path of Collymore who had moved away from Radebe.

The former Aston Villa striker needed no second invitation as he hammered a rising and powerful shot past Martyn.

Leeds retaliated and Tim Flowers needed two attempts to hold onto a 35-yard free-kick from Ian Harte.

Kewell was unlucky to see his low shot beat Flowers all ends up and cannon back off a post to safety after he cut inside Taggart after seizing onto a long, probing pass from Alfie Haaland.

Leeds now held the initiative and it came as no surprise when they drew level in the 38th minute.

Kewell brought down a pass from Harte on his chest, held off the challenge of Taggart and drove a low shot across Flowers into the corner of the net.

City boss Martin O'Neill brought on Phil Gilchrist for Frank Sinclair at half-time as he reverted from 3-5-2 to 4-4-2 and his side made a purposeful start to the second period.

Collymore shot into the side-netting after more good play by Izzet and in the 48th minute City regained the lead.

A free-kick from Stefan Oakes flicked off the head of a Leeds defender into the path of Guppy at the far post.

The England wing-back drilled a low shot across Martyn into the corner of the net for his first goal since returning to action from a knee injury in mid-January.

Lennon became the first player to be booked in the 58th minute for a late challenge on Haaland, before Flowers scrambled across his line to hold onto a deflected shot from Kewell.

But Leeds posed less of a threat in the initial stages of the second period.

Eadie seemed less than happy when replaced by Tony Cottee after 66 minutes but the veteran striker's first touch almost produced a goal and it needed Radebe to get a vital block on his close range shot.

It was Leicester who looked the more likely to score again with Izzet inches over the top with an overhead kick, but they held on for a victory which appears to have put the Premiership title on a plate for Manchester United.

Teams:

Leicester: Flowers, Sinclair (Gilchrist 48), Taggart, Guppy, Savage, Elliott, Izzet, Lennon, Oakes, Eadie (Cottee 66), Collymore.

Subs Not Used: Marshall, Arphexad, Impey.

Booked: Lennon, Collymore.

Goals: Collymore 14, Guppy 48.

Leeds: Martyn, Kelly, Radebe, Woodgate, Harte, Wilcox, Haaland, McPhail, Bakke, Bridges (Huckerby 71), Kewell.

Subs Not Used: Robinson, Mills, Duberry, Maybury.

Booked: Harte, Haaland.

Goals: Kewell 38.

Att: 21,095

Ref: S Lodge (Barnsley).