Alan Smith sampled both the agony and the ecstasy of Premiership football as he set Leeds on the road to victory at Sunderland and then got himself sent off.

The England Under-21 international headed home with 32 minutes gone to further his side's claims for European qualification - but he then received his marching orders for a second bookable offence 19 minutes from time for lashing out at defender Patrice Carteron.

Mark Viduka made it 2-0 at the death, but it was a game the visitors could have won more comfortably if the impressive Lee Bowyer had taken his chances and Black Cats goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen had not pulled off a fine save from Harry Kewell.

The sending-off galavanized Peter Reid's side a day before the manager celebrated his sixth anniversary at the club.

Nigel Martyn had to produce an equally brilliant stop to deny Julio Arca a late equaliser, but the Argentinian midfielder was guilty of a dreadful miss eight minutes from time after Martyn had blotted his copybook by fumbling a regulation cross.

Sunderland were unchanged from the side which won 4-2 at Chelsea a fortnight ago, with Don Hutchison again deputising for the injured Niall Quinn in attack.

Leeds too kept faith with the bulk of the side which won 2-1 at Charlton on the same day, although Scottish international Dominic Matteo was ruled out with an ankle problem and Lucas Radebe was selected in his place.

With so much at stake, both sides came out with all guns blazing - and it was Sunderland who initially held sway, forcing the visitors into desperate defence without creating too many clear-cut chances.

Gavin McCann saw a sixth-minute effort blocked at point-blank range by Rio Ferdinand. But the best opporunity of the opening minutes fell to Swedish midfielder Stefan Schwarz, who sent a volley inches wide on 12 minutes as Leeds struggled to clear their lines.

As the half wore on, it was David O'Leary's side who wrestled the advantage away from their hosts with Bowyer in particular having a growing influence.

Indeed, the midfielder should have put his side ahead with 21 minutes gone after being put through by Danny Mills but he dragged his shot wide of Sorensen's right post.

He could do little better with his left foot nine minute later after Ian Harte had exploited the squareness of the Sunderland rearguard - but the drama came at the other end just after the half-hour.

Carteron, making his home debut for the Black Cats, floated a ball over the top to Kevin Phillips who appeared to be pulled down by Ferdinand with just Martyn to beat - but referee Steve Dunn was not interested in his furious protests.

To make matters worse, it was the visitors who went in front on 32 minutes when Kewell returned Harte's corner back across goal and Smith headed it past Sorensen and into the net.

Sunderland were incensed but they had to wait until the 44th minute for their clearest chance, David Batty kicking Emerson Thome's header off the line to preserve his side's lead.

Leeds emerged after the break determined to hang on to their lead and they looked more than capable of doing so as they threatened to extend their lead when Kewell forced a brilliant 56th-minute save from Sorensen.

The visitors were content to sit back and soak up the pressure as Sunderland opted for a direct approach which suited Ferdinand down to the ground.

Reid sent on Danny Dichio on 66 minutes, and he had a chance within five minutes - although his header from Schwarz's cross did not trouble Martyn unduly.

Smith's dismissal for a second bookable offence after lashing out at Carteron seconds later totally changed the complexion of the game as the Wearsiders got the bit between their teeth once again.

Martyn pulled off a breath-taking save to deny Arca a brilliant equaliser on 72 minutes, and then Mills twice got in desperate blocks to keep out Gavin McCann shots.

Schwarz sent a dipping 20-yard volley just over the bar 12 minutes from time as Reid's side turned the screw - but still the breakthrough would not come.

Arca had a golden opportunity to level it on 82 minutes after Martyn dropped McCann's cross, but the South American side-footed his shot over the empty net.

That miss proved even more costly in injury time when substitute Robbie Keane supplied Viduka in the middle, and he finished coolly to cement the victory.

Teams

Sunderland: Sorensen, Carteron, Craddock (Varga 75), Thome, Gray, McCann, Kilbane (Butler 67), Schwarz, Arca, Phillips, Hutchison (Dichio 66).

Subs Not Used: Williams, Macho.

Booked: Varga.

Leeds: Martyn, Harte, Radebe (Kelly 45), Ferdinand, Mills, Kewell (Keane 83), Batty, Dacourt (Bakke 9), Bowyer, Viduka, Smith.

Subs Not Used: Robinson, Wilcox.

Sent Off: Smith (71).

Booked: Radebe, Smith.

Goals: Smith 33, Viduka 90.

Att: 48,285

Ref: S Dunn (Bristol).