WHETHER Leeds can drag themselves out of their multiplicity of troubles, both on and off the field, remains deeply in doubt. But yesterday, at least, they ended a miserable run of six defeats with unexpected victory at Charlton, even if this did not take them off the bottom and even if this 1-0 success could scarcely be compared with the sensational 6-1 victory they achieved here last April.

Yesterday’s performance by Leeds was blessedly light years away from the wretched, demoralised show one had seen from them a week earlier when they lost so feebly 2-0 at home to Bolton.

It was good to see temporary manager Eddie Gray give a couple of young wingers their fling at a time when they are sadly absent from so many teams. The highly promising James Milner, switching from right to left, scored the only goal of the game in a mere nine minutes. Jermaine Pennant, on loan from Arsenal, was full of persistent running and initiative on the right.

At right-back, Gary Kelly made a positive return, Dominic Matteo resumed in midfield, and Alan Smith was up front. Although Charlton were strangely disappointing, there was no denying that Leeds’ morale was emphatically improved.

The goal came when Mark Viduka, a sadly peripheral figure against Bolton, but a potent and influential one here, crossed from the right for Milner to move in and beat Dean Kiely.

Only three minutes later, Viduka, who always seemed to have the physical edge over Charlton’s new signing from Tottenham, Chris Perry, shook him off and forced his way past Kiely, only for Radostin Kishishev to clear off the line.

Midway through the half Milner left his marker standing, crossed, and Viduka was only just thwarted in the goalmouth.

Charlton at last came effectively to life and when Scott Parker crossed from the right, Matt Holland dashed in from behind Jason Euell to head against the right-hand post via Paul Robinson’s hand.

The second half, until the lively closing minutes, was something of an anti-climax. We had to wait until the final minutes to see goals in prospect again. Charlton, at half-time, had brought on the tall, muscular Chelsea striker, Carlton Cole, whom they have on loan. He might have equalised when, on the near post, he met a left-wing cross by Hermann Hreidarsson, producing from Robinson the save of the match.

At the very end, Milner had a right-foot shot comfortably saved by Kiely, but the goalkeeper was hopelessly beaten when a careless pass back by Mark Fish was intercepted by Viduka, who lobbed studiously over the goalkeeper’s head. Perry raced back to clear the ball just before it could roll over the line.

Alan Curbishley, Charlton’s manager, gracious in defeat, said that Leeds deserved their win. “We were chasing the game from the first,” he admitted.

“Leeds set about us. They won everything in the first minute and I don’t think it was a surprise when they went one up. That was a great boost.

“They stifled us and they broke on us and it just shows you in the Premiership how vital a first goal is.”

Nor would he use the absence of several key players as an excuse. He added: “Viduka looked the player we know he is and Pennant and Milner closed the full-backs down.”

Gray did not attend the press conference, but it was clear that he is imbuing his team with at least a measure of morale, which was what they lacked in that dreadful defeat by Bolton. Smith’s return was a substantial plus. He worked hard throughout, as often in a five-man midfield as in a two-man attack.

By the end, the Leeds supporters behind the Charlton goal were jubilantly chanting Gray’s name. One’s mind went back to the 1970 FA Cup final at Wembley against Chelsea when he so mesmerised his opposing right-back, David Webb.

Whether Gray can somehow keep Leeds in the Premiership and whether the club itself can somehow come to terms with its looming creditors, are alas quite different questions. But at least, for those of us who had watched Leeds’ lamentable display against Bolton, this was a spirited transformation.

Substitutes: Charlton: Svensson (Cole h-t), Jensen (Campbell-Ryce 71min), Kishishev (Fortune 88min)

Booked: Parker 26, Smith 44, Kishishev 88

Referee: M Halsey

Attendance: 26,445

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