Charlton - 1 Leeds utd - 6 Peter Reid is taking Leeds backwards. That might seem an extraordinary assertion after the manager guided his new team to a superb win in which they scored as many goals as in their final seven Premiership games under Terry Venables but the evidence here was striking.
Leeds going backwards under Reid does not mean deteriorating but turning back to the values which made them formidable a couple of years ago. This display was bristling with aggression, team ethic, relentless closing down and a fierce will to win. From that base the talent of Alan Smith, Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell glittered.
Reid had signalled a break from the Venables era by removing Paul Okon, Raul Bravo and Teddy Lucic from the squad, yet the reversion to former times ran deeper. The high-energy approach reflects Reid's own ideals but perhaps he also remembers what helped David O'Leary's Leeds beat his Sunderland in five of their six Premiership meetings. Welcome to the new, old Leeds United.
Even after the upheaval and departures at Elland Road, every one of Reid's starting XI played some part in the club's Champions League run of 2000-01. Seven even started the semi-final in Valencia and this was a reminder of those brash days.
If at times under Venables players seemed to coast or be tentative, on Saturday that was never an issue. A fierce early Leeds onslaught set the tone. Kewell chased back to his own area to make challenges, Smith never allowed Charlton's centre-backs a minute's peace and Viduka was punishing with his finishing. And so five straight defeats were followed by the biggest win of the Premiership season. Leeds were helped by a shocking Charlton but will not go down if they maintain this standard, which is the big challenge.
Some of Leeds' play was direct, some more thoughtful but never were they over-elaborate. From Michael Duberry to Smith, they had too much desire for Charlton. After a week in which Wayne Rooney supposedly secured England's number nine jersey for the next 15 years, here was a reminder from Smith of his talent. He and Viduka made Richard Rufus and Mark Fish look like novices. The way Smith won a challenge and set up Viduka for 3-0 epitomised that.
Charlton could never settle and only Scott Parker emerged with credibility outfield. Alan Curbishley called his team's display unacceptable and denied them yesterday off.
Once Smith had set up Kewell, earned a penalty converted by Ian Harte and put in Viduka, Charlton gained hope from a Jason Euell spot-kick. But Smith teed up Viduka and won another penalty that gave Viduka his hat-trick before Kewell cut out Tahar El Khalej's pass and got number six.
Even if Leeds stay up, who knows whether Smith, Viduka and Kewell will remain given the debt? But for the time being Leeds can enjoy the present and relish Reid taking them backwards.
CHARLTON: Kiely, Young, Rufus, Fish, Konchesky (El Khalej 67), Kishishev (Svensson 45), Parker, Euell, Jensen, Johansson, Lisbie (Powell 45). Subs Not Used: Rachubka, Robinson. Booked: Kiely, Svensson. Goal: Euell 45 pen.
LEEDS: Robinson, Mills, Radebe, Duberry, Harte, Kelly, Matteo, Bakke (Milner 86), Kewell (Wilcox 80), Smith (Simon Johnson 78), Viduka. Subs Not Used: Martyn, Barmby. Booked: Matteo. Goals: Kewell 12, Harte 34 pen, Viduka 42, 53, 56 pen, Kewell 76.
Referee: E Wolstenholme.
