With a swagger and an arrogance that suggests a team approaching the height of its powers, Leeds United swept to the top of the Premiership yesterday. Victory over a compliant Charlton, achieved with the minimum of bother, ensured David O'Leary's side took full advantage of Manchester United's Newcastle nightmare.
The manager will hope this proves a pivotal weekend in the championship race. Leeds were in full flow yesterday, aided by Graham Stuart's sending off after 36 minutes which left Charlton dazed, confused and praying for the final whistle.
With Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka, Robbie Keane and Lee Bowyer at their cocksure, pulsating best, Leeds dominated a Charlton side bereft of nine first-teamers through injury.
United's one regret was the number of chances they spurned. The result, and their position at the league's summit, suggests, however, that they will push Manchester United much harder than last season, when a slow start meant they were only 13th in January.
O'Leary's mood was suitably restrained given the events in America, but he was pleased his side have managed to maintain the momentum gained in the second half of last season - and expects plenty more to come.
"I couldn't care about Manchester United or other teams," he said. "We're at the top of the league. I hear all the so-called experts say that we're not playing well, but we are getting points and we can only improve. No one is firing on all cylinders yet. But what we want is to launch our challenge for the title from the top of the league rather than from 13th."
O'Leary was delighted that Keane finally scored his first goal of the season after a difficult spell, but correctly insisted that the Irish striker should have had two or three more. Keane should take heed of O'Leary's comments that he's still looking for "players who can score goals."
The Leeds manager repeatedly bemoaned lack of luck last season, but things fell into place for them yesterday when, having weathered an early Charlton storm which included an acrobatic save by Nigel Martyn to keep out a Mark Fish header, they took the lead. Fish this time was at fault, hesitating to deal with a pass from Ian Harte to allow Keane to nip in between him and his goalkeeper Dean Kiely to steer the ball home.
It got rapidly worse for Charlton. Stuart, having lost control of the ball to Harte, hurled himself at the left back with a two-footed challenge that led to his red card.
Harte made the most of the incident, recovering in remarkable speed once Stuart had been dismissed, and Charlton's manager Alan Curbishley suggested this contributed to the decision. O'Leary, on the other hand, said that Harte's rapid recovery was down to Leeds having "the best physio in England".
He was less jocular about the yellow card Keane received for diving, and was certain a penalty should have been awarded after Kiely appeared to fell the striker in the box.
Keane was a constant menace to Charlton, hitting the post from an acute angle after half an hour and twice in the second half shooting wide, having skilfully created openings for himself.
Charlton's finishing was equally lax, and Jason Euell was most culpable when heading wide on the stroke of half time from five yards.
Once their former player, Danny Mills, had assured a Leeds win with a fierce left-foot shot, Charlton simply tried to keep the score line respectable. Injuries did not help their cause, and Curbishley will need the walking wounded to recover quickly if his side are not to be sucked into difficulties.
CHARLTON: Kiely, Young (Lisbie 78), Brown, Fish, Powell, Konchesky, Robinson, Parker, Stuart, Bartlett, Euell (Kinsella 66). Subs Not Used: Roberts, Fortune, Salako. Sent Off: Stuart (37). Booked: Young, Bartlett.
LEEDS: Martyn, Mills, Ferdinand, Matteo, Harte, Dacourt (McPhail 66), Bowyer, Batty, Kewell, Viduka, Keane. Subs Not Used: Robinson, Kelly, Woodgate, Wilcox. Booked: Keane. Goals: Keane 21, Mills 62.
Referee: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City).
