United rue Barthez behaving badly

It is the sort of come-what-may devotion that has been absent at United since the Eric Cantona trawler sailed from Old Trafford, taking the sardines and seagulls with it.

Ferguson said: 'Fabien has an assurance and a confidence and is always in control of a situation. He takes chances, but he enjoys that part of his game and there's not a lot we can do about that. The fact of the matter is, whatever happens, he remains unfazed.'

He was anything but calm when he lashed out at Ian Harte after being challenged at a corner. The resulting penalty award should have been

followed by the goalkeeper's expulsion, but instead referee Graham Barber showed only a yellow card.

For all the stupidity of the incident, however, Barthez recovered his composure and saved the kick before winking cheekily at a beguiled Olivier Dacourt in the aftermath.

United will also escape FA censure for the protests that five of the team launched against Barber after the penalty award - a video panel ruling it was not a 'mass confrontation'.

It was all so typical of an afternoon when United played badly but didn' t l o s e - enjoying the combination of bad refereeing and good fortune.

A goal by Luke Chadwick was the product of good work between Paul Scholes and Sheringham to begin with. But Leeds goalkeeper Nigel Martyn was disappointing in the way he spooned Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's weak shot into Chad-wick's path.

Without Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs and Andy Cole, United were toothless in more than one department. Giggs is definitely out of the game in Athens. Leeds, too, have a Euro excursion to cope with, although their trip to Madrid to face Real will be much less fraught.

David O'Leary's side have already booked a quarter-final place and their main aim must be qualifying for n e x t season's competition via the Premiership.

Saturday's point has done little to aid that cause but the belief it might instil could yet be invaluable.

It is not often United are outplayed for most of the 90 minutes but Leeds had the power to match their creative instincts, over-running their opponents and making enough chances for victory.

It was a tribute to O'Leary that he has a group of mainly young players within whom he has fostered his own never-say-die spirit.

When United stole the lead, despite enduring the greater pressure, heads could have fallen. Instead, Leeds battled on and delivered an equaliser of exquisite construction.

Danny Mills' run showed determination and the cross was perfect for Mark Viduka to head into the net.

Another appalling decision to rule Viduka offside when Wes Brown turned Bowyer's centre into his own net deprived Leeds of a deserved win. O'Leary had reason to moan but preferred to look at the positives of the coming weeks.

He said: 'We're starting to get players back at the right time like Kewell, who might manage 50 or 60 minutes. We can still nick a Champions League place but our home form needs to improve.

'As for Real, I'd take a point because I think they'll win the group and I don't think we can beat them in Madrid, not with the players we're short. I'm thrilled to be in the last eight because Real aren't short of being the best in Europe.'

United and Barthez beware. It will require inspiration and genius to prosper against the likes of the Spaniards should Fergie's team win in Greece and take their place alongside Leeds in the knockout phase.