 Leeds topped the league for much of the first half of the season after an excellent star; losing only once in the league between August and January, running Premier League giants Liverpool close in a 0–1 defeat in the League Cup and reaching the third round of the FA Cup and regional final of the Football League Trophy by the start of the new year.Leeds began 2010 away to arch-rivals and Champions of England Manchester United in the FA Cup.Howson provided a fifty-yard assist for Jermaine Beckford early in the first half as the League One club caused one the competition's greatest ever upsets and Leeds' first victory at Old Trafford in nearly thirty years in a 1–0 victory.