TERRY Venables lay on his sickbed, the victim of flu, while his team died unheroically at Elland Road.

There was no hangover for Newcastle after Sir Bobby Robson’s 70th birthday celebrations and the midweek 3-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, just two goals by the classy Kieron Dyer, a third from Alan Shearer and enough opportunities to complete a rout. “Their second goal killed us,” said Venables’ assistant, Eddie Gray.

Clearly, it is not just the manager who must now get up off his bed and walk. Leeds were limp, Newcastle nonchalant in their destruction.

They now lie just three points behind Manchester United with a game in hand and Sir Alex Ferguson must take his side to St James’ Park on April 12.

In Newcastle’s present mood, they are smelling blood all around them. “We’re looking above us, not behind us,” said Robson in warning. Concerned enough to ask about the well-being of his old friend and fellow former England boss, the old soldier of Tyneside remained happy nonetheless.

“They’re out of the doldrums a little bit having done better of late and I’m happy about that,” he said. “I thought it would be a tricky game. It was at three (o’clock) but by four it wasn’t so difficult. Our defence played very well indeed, didn’t let Alan Smith or Harry Kewell in behind us and Shay Given didn’t have much to save. And Kieron, of course, did wonderfully well, deserved a hat-trick and almost got it with that shot that touched the post.

“We have a very strong squad, class players at a good age and we’ve replaced the Leeds of three years ago who had such a bright future. I think we have the finest young crop of players in the country and I’m going to enjoy it before I hand it over to the next man. I’ll know when to pack it in but now I’m just soldiering along.”

So too is Shearer. He may not have the range he could draw on in his heyday but he still has enough to hurt defenders. He damaged two with his flying elbows, Raul Bravo and Lucas Radebe, who had to be taken off to be patched up around his right eye, but his biggest blows were legitimate and vintage. He started everything off with a pass to Laurent Robert which was returned to him on the edge of the area.

Chesting the ball down and laying it off to Dyer in one movement, he had created the opening Newcastle needed and it fell to the right man. Dyer had not scored in the league this season but he was deadly on this day, beating Paul Robinson at his near post.

Newcastle were on their way. They had to survive one moment of crisis before assuming complete control.

Smith charged down an attempted clearance by Titus Bramble and the loose ball fell at the feet of Kewell, who took it round Robinson but was thwarted by a brave block on the line by Andy Griffin. Leeds would come no closer. The telling kick was struck by Dyer three minutes into the second half.

Leeds were instantly and utterly broken. Craig Bellamy controlled a long ball from Bramble, slipped it to Dyer who forced Michael Duberry and Radebe to back off just enough for the England international to take dead aim just inside Robinson’s far post and strike his shot sublimely.

Robert then delivered the free-kick which allowed Shearer to deliver his 18th goal of the season, a powerful header into the bottom corner.

The fight was all gone from Leeds. Forgotten around Elland Road was the transfer of Jonathan Woodgate to Tyneside which had caused so much grievance. Woodgate was not here.

Venables was not well enough to be in the dugout where he would no doubt have been tearing out his hair. This was no sight for a sick man. Those who went home feeling sick to the stomach could testify to that.

Leeds United: Robinson, Mills, Radebe (Lucic 72min), Duberry, Bravo, Kelly, Okon (Barmby 70min), Johnson, Wilcox (Milner h-t), Smith, Kewell

Newcastle United: Given, Griffin (Dabizas 86min), O’Brien, Bramble, Hughes, Kerr (Acuna 81min), Dyer (Ameobi 81min), Speed, Robert, Shearer, Bellamy

Scorers: Newcastle: Dyer 14, 48, Shearer 54

Referee: A Wiley

Attendance: 40,025

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