YOUNGSTERS Richie Humphreys and Andy Booth showed the `old men' of Leeds the way to goal to give Sheffield Wednesday their second straight Premiership victory of the new season.
Eighteen year old Humphreys had marked only his second start for his home town club by netting in the 2-1 win over Aston Villa on Saturday.
Last night at a sodden Elland Road it was the teenager's sweetly struck 14th minute effort that gave David Pleat's side, who rode their luck, the edge in the battle for Yorkshire pride. It put the Owls on top of the fledgling table.
Lee Bowyer, one of five Leeds players making their home debuts, gave the ball away to Regi Blinker and, although the Dutchman's shot was blocked, it fell perfectly for Humphreys to fire left footed across and past Nigel Martyn.
After somehow surviving as an astonishing four Leeds efforts struck the woodwork, Blinker created the injury time second that allowed 23 year old Booth to stride through and open his Premiership account.
Yet Howard Wilkinson's side - with Ian Rush and on loan Mark Hateley comprising a 68 year old strike pairing - must have been wondering how they had come away with nothing.
Rush suffered twice on his 700th domestic appearance, and with fellow new boys' Bowyer and Lee Sharpe also left holding their heads, Leeds had reason for feeling hard done by.
While Leeds could blame ill fortune at the end, the start had been a familiar and depressing story for Wilkinson's side and the home fans.
Only a spectacular save by Martyn prevented Lucas Radebe from heading into his own net from Guy Whittingham's cross inside 30 seconds and Martyn then foiled the unmarked Whittingham from Mark Pembridge's corner.
Humphreys' goal was overdue, but Rush should have equalised immediately when Sharpe's ball found him ruled onside. Rush took his time and picked his spot, but smashed the ball against the upright.
Kevin Pressman was grateful to the woodwork then and again 10 minutes later, Bowyer coming so close to making amends when he collected Gary Kelly's deep cross to fire in a rightfooter from 18 yards that bounced off the bar.
But Leeds's poor defending did not improve. Pembridge, who had a running spat with Bowyer all night, and Whittingham - the latter barely four yards out - were allowed free headers.
Richard Job son escaped when he passed back straight to Whittingham and Mark Ford then blocked Pembridge's goal bound effort on the line.
The second half started with Wayne Collins's volley deflected off the Leeds bar, but the escape spurred Leeds.
Pressman saved well from the otherwise unimpressive Hateley and then, on the hour, came proof that it was not Rush's night.
Bowyer strode down the left and Rush beat Pressman to the cross only for the bar to be struck for the third time in the game.
Wilkinson made a double swap, sending on Andy Gray and David Wetherall for Radebe and Ford, Sharpe wriggled past three defenders to fire across Pressman in the 75th minute, the ball hitting the base of the post and bouncing back along the line.
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