ONCE, NOT SO LONG AGO, LEEDS United aimed to grow as big as Manchester United; now they are attempting to emulate Leicester City. No pretensions other than survival, no delusions of excellence. Just toil allied to organisation and lit up by the occasional flash of flair. The period of administration and devastating relegation to the Nationwide League, à la Leicester, may yet follow; but after the weekend’s events, not necessarily.

“A proper team performance. Back to basics,” was Dominic Matteo’s assessment. “We’ve been playing as individuals; we’ve been working hard to get back to that team ethic.”

On Saturday, Eddie Gray, the caretaker-manager, discarded the loaned-in foreign players who did Peter Reid few favours. “I think it’s been very difficult for them, the situation at the club, because they really don’t know their long-term futures,” Gray said.

Now the club is putting its faith in a very different collection of obscure men from overseas. Bahrain’s biggest Leeds fan, Sheikh Abdul bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa, will not be buying the business, but he told a Middle East newspaper at the weekend that he is the “main broker” in “negotiations with various parties in the Gulf region” who may consider investing.

Mark Viduka invested just about all he had in the Leeds cause on Saturday and was unlucky not to score. He is not so much a talisman for his team as a touchstone. An emblem of Leeds’s malaise this season, at The Valley the Australian was a symbol of their energy and determination. He provided the cross for James Milner’s early goal and had a shot cleared off the line in the last minute. “When the big man plays up front on his own he relishes it,” Matteo said. “He was outstanding, he worked as hard as anyone.” Milner, the 17-year-old winger, was equally impressive.

Gray said: “When things haven’t gone well, people tend to look at that lack of passion, lack of commitment. I just think that when results don’t go for players, it’s up to them to take it forward and take the club forward.”

Missing the injured Paolo Di Canio, among others, Charlton lacked the wit and width to penetrate a five-man midfield that included Alan Smith and smothered the game. Leeds tackled hard, kept their shape and ran about. A lot. Thus the seven-match unbeaten run of the Premiership’s most sensible club was ended by the top division’s most reckless member.

Charlton announced an operating profit of £2.8 million for the financial year last week but that was not much consolation to the home fans at the final whistle. They should consider snapping up the “Addicks Go Fourth — the story of the season so far” video and enjoying the memory. On this evidence, a Champions League spot is an implausible ambition and both teams will gravitate towards mid-table from opposite directions.

Next weekend, though, Leeds are at home to Chelsea, and talk may shift from deals in the Gulf to a gulf in class.

Charlton Athletic (4-4-2): D Kiely 4 — R Kishishev 4 (sub: J Fortune, 88min), M Fish 5, C Perry 5, H Hreidarsson 5 — M Holland 5, C Jensen 6 (sub: J Campbell-Ryce, 71), S Parker 5, G Stuart 5 — M Svensson 5 (sub: C Cole, 46 5), J Euell 5. Substitutes not used: S Leite, C Powell. Booked: Parker, Kishishev. NEXT: Southampton (a). FORM: LDWWDW

Leeds United (4-5-1): P Robinson 5 — G Kelly 5, L Radebe 7, M Duberry 6, I Harte 5 — J Pennant 6, A Smith 7, D Matteo 7, D Batty 6, J Milner 8 — M Viduka 8. Substitutes not used: S Carson, J Morris, M Bridges, S McPhail, D Domi. Booked: Smith. NEXT: Chelsea (h). FORM: WLLLLL

Shots on target: (h) 6 (a) 7. Fouls: (h) 11 (a) 17. Offsides: (h) 4 (a) 2

Referee: M Halsey 3. Attendance: 26,445