Leeds earn unlikely victory

Managers whose teams survive a battering from their opponents are apt to claim: "It was like the Alamo out there." At St James' Park, it was as if General Santa Anna's army had turned up with rocket launchers and machine guns rather than muskets. And yet Leeds not only escaped, they snatched an astonishing victory from the jaws of what should have been a heavy defeat.

It was a vital win. As Newcastle's chairman, Freddie Shepherd, pointed out, Newcastle's two wins over Leeds had ensured they qualified for the Champions' League and the Yorkshire side did not, which led to David O'Leary's dismissal.

Sir Bobby Robson's reflections when Alan Smith's drive flew into the back of the net for Leeds' second are probably unprintable, although if Newcastle are to qualify again for the Champions' League – they lie second bottom this morning – they will have to sort out a central defence that has been constantly undermined by Titus Bramble's naivety.

Last season, Leeds had come to St James', scored after 30 seconds, and lost. Last night, they were ahead before five minutes were up, although Mark Viduka's goal merely stung Newcastle into a sustained and furious assault on Paul Robinson's goal. The attacks only ceased when Smith scored moments from the end. That Leeds survived was due in part to the dogged effectiveness of Jonathan Woodgate and the excellence of Robinson's reflexes.

If David Seaman is too old and David James too unreliable, then Leeds' young keeper, who played such a part in their run to the semi-finals of the European Cup last year, looks England's best long-term bet in goal, despite the fact he was the only member of Sven Goran Eriksson's squad not to receive a run-out against Portugal on Saturday.

"They throw everything at you with pace and skill," said Terry Venables. "If you want work as a keeper, you are going to get it here. We had to be brave and give him the space to make the saves."

As they failed to do against Birmingham, Leeds began tightly and Newcastle's habit of defending too close to the halfway line was fatally exposed by one pass from Nick Barmby that sent Harry Kewell sprinting deep into their area. A low, precise cross was bundled into Shay Given's net by Viduka, who looked offside.

Newcastle were off balance and off form for perhaps a quarter of an hour but thereafter they pressed relentlessly forward towards the tall, slight figure of Shola Ameobi, although most of St James' would have preferred to see Craig Bellamy, who was given a vast ovation when he came on; something that annoyed Robson. "Everybody thinks Craig Bellamy is a magician but he cannot wave a wand," he said. "He not properly fit and he is not Jesus Christ; the expectancy here is too much."

Ameobi played well, but not well enough. A second-half header from fewer than six yards flew inches over the bar and two minutes before the interval a low cross from Aaron Hughes became entangled between his long legs and Robinson gratefully dived on it.

The best of his many saves came from two blistering drives from the French boots of Laurent Robert and Olivier Bernard, although the sight of Alan Shearer bearing down on goal would have been the greatest test of his nerve – but once more Robinson was equal to it.

Newcastle United (4-4-2): Given 6; Hughes 7, Bramble 4, O'Brien 6 (Griffin 6, 83) Bernard 6; Solano 6, Dyer 7, Speed 6 (Viana 6, 67), Robert 7; Ameobi 6 (Bellamy 5, 67) Shearer 7. Substitutes not used: Jenas, Harper (gk).

Leeds United (4-4-2): Robinson 8; Mills 6, Woodgate 8, Matteo 6, Harte 6; Bowyer 5, Barmby 6, Dacourt 6, Kewell 6; Viduka 6 (Bakke 6, 85), Smith 6. Substitutes not used: Kelly, Radebe, Okon, Martyn (gk).

Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury) 6.