Milner, who became the youngest Premier League goalscorer with Leeds' equaliser in the 2-1 Boxing Day win at Sunderland just nine days short of his 17th birthday, sealed a sparkling triumph with an outstanding finish in first-half injury time.

And if you are going to win your first home league match since September 14 then you may as well do it in style, for Leeds had taken a 30th-minute lead courtesy of Jonathan Woodgate's first goal for two years.

Chelsea created their own downfall as boss Claudio Ranieri made a remarkable seven changes to the side held to a goalless draw at home by Southampton two days ago, and it clearly disrupted the Blues' shape and flow.

There were a couple of early scares for Leeds, with a Gianfranco Zola snap shot in the second minute rifled straight at Paul Robinson, while an unmarked William Gallas failed to even find the target after latching onto a Graeme Le Saux in-swinging corner at the far post.

Chelsea's leading scorer Zola then had another opportunity to end a scoreless run which now stretches to 10 games with a 25-yard free-kick curler which was inches over the angle of bar and post after Eidur Gudjo had been fouled by Paul Okon.

Instead, it was a Leeds side buoyed by an unbeaten run going into the game of three matches, who showed all their old invention and flair. They shook off the shackles which have previously restrained them at Elland Road as Terry Venables and his players had previously conceded they were becoming afraid to take to their own stage.

But with Harry Kewell showing signs of returning to the star name which once made him a 20million target for the richest clubs in Serie A and the Primera Liga, it was Leeds who looked a side full of confidence.

Ed de Goey, retaining his place in the Chelsea side for the injured Carlo Cudicini, initially proved he is still an outstanding goalkeeper as he twice denied Leeds midway through the first half.

An Eirik Bakke flick in the 19th minute caught Chelsea's defence napping, allowing Kewell to run on and crack a 16-yard left-foot drive which brought out the best from the Dutchman.

Just four minutes later Alan Smith's headed flick to a Jason Wilcox corner had the 36-year-old at full stretch in tipping the ball over the bar. But it did not take long for Leeds to finally make their mark, winning a corner in the 30th minute after a glancing header from Kewell from a right-wing cross from an advanced Woodgate took a slight deflection past de Goey's left-hand post.

With Milner waiting to come on, Kelly rolled the ball to Wilcox for a curling cross which Woodgate powerfully headed beyond de Goey - albeit taking a touch off Gallas - for his first goal for two years and five days.

As the Leeds fans celebrated, a limping Kewell was then immediately replaced by Milner and there could have been fears Leeds might have lost their way. For a moment soon after there was a danger of the game bubbling over too to mirror past heated encounters - the last 13 producing 71 bookings and four red cards - when Smith was shown a yellow for hacking down Mario Stanic.

Smith could perhaps count himself fortunate to have still been on the pitch as he had escaped punishment for an earlier and clear elbow on Graeme Le Saux. It appeared at that stage the left-back's two-footed lunge on Danny Mills in the corresponding fixture last season had perhaps not been forgotten.

Le Saux only received a caution at the time, although for his protests from the technical area, it led to the expulsion of then boss David O'Leary to the Elland Road stands. But any threat of the game exploding was extinguished on the stroke of half-time with Milner's exquisite strike as he first took a pass from Wilcox in his stride.

World Cup winner and Chelsea skipper Marcel Desailly was then left trailing in the local hero's wake before he then curled a sensational 18-yard right-foot shot beyond de Goey.

Leeds then celebrated in style for Milner was literally mobbed by his team-mates as everyone bar Robinson piled on top of the grounded young star. After the break Leeds did not face the onslaught they could have perhaps expected, although there were chances for Enrique de Lucas, Eidur Gudjohnsen and former Leeds star Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink which went begging.