CHEER UP, PETER REID. JUST A FEW MORE hours and all this horse-trading will be over for four months. “I’m knackered,” the Leeds United manager quipped. “This transfer window? I just want to jump out of it.” After celebrating a first victory of the season, supporters will be trusting that Mark Viduka does not share the same inclination before bolts are fastened for the year at 5pm today.

The Leeds match-winner proved his value at the Riverside Stadium by producing the kind of tepid performance that would make Inter Milan keep their euros in their pockets only to snaffle a classy late finish, lobbing Mark Schwarzer after Andrew Davies had slipped. After his close-season contretemps with Reid, the Australia forward then gave a rather equivocal response when asked if he was relieved to hear Leeds had laughed off Inter’s request for a loan deal.

“I’m happy here and Leeds is my club,” he said. “You’ve got to consider everything but I’m not just going to go anywhere just for the sake of it. I’m comfortable here and I like the Premiership as well.”

One win does not make a manager but Reid’s acquisitions are rapidly substantiating his credibility. Jermaine Pennant not only laid on all three Leeds goals in a marvellous game, but ran all day and crossed with pace and penetration. Lamine Sakho claimed his first Leeds goal with an incisive run and finish for the opener while Zoumana Camara defended like a young Lucas Radebe before popping up, unmarked, to head in the late equaliser.

Reid barely dares hope that Arsenal may lend him Pennant, on loan for two months, for the whole season but Viduka is impressed. “Everyone thought Leeds would struggle but I’m encouraged by the way the new boys have settled,” he said. “Jermaine has been outstanding. He had three assists today and it sure helps me having someone coming down the right hand side and getting crosses in.”

Steve McClaren has also been a busy bee during the shopping season, the Middlesbrough manager unveiling Boudewijn Zenden, his latest high-profile loan signing, in for a year from Chelsea, before a game in which Danny Mills, suitably sensible against his erstwhile team-mates, and Gaizka Mendieta impressed on their home debuts.

Middlesbrough appear to be assembling their very own fantasy league team. Whether the mercurial Mendieta, whose penalty box sorcery led to Szilard Nemeth’s equaliser, and Juninho, who scooped home after the Spaniard’s free kick was cleared his way, can fit into the same midfield will help to determine whether Middlesbrough progress.

Juninho was brushed aside as Pennant powered forward to dispatch the through-ball for the winner. It is true, however, that Middlesbrough, with one point from four games, played some great football in creating 12 good chances. “On another day we’d have scored five or six goals,” McClaren said. “There’s no panic.” And once 5pm ticks by this afternoon, these managers will be able to leave mobile phones on recharge and take to the training fields.

Middlesbrough (4-3-1-2): M Schwarzer 6 — D Mills 6, A Davies 5, G Southgate 7, S Parnaby 5 (sub: R Stockdale, 52min 5) — G Mendieta 7, G Boateng 6, J Greening 6 — Juninho 6 — J-D Job 6 (sub: M Christie, 82), S Nemeth 6. Substitutes not used: M Ricketts, Doriva, C Nash. Booked: Juninho, Mendieta. NEXT: Bolton (a). FORM: LDLL

Leeds United (4-4-2): P Robinson 7 — G Kelly 6, Z Camara 6, D Matteo 7, I Harte 3 (sub: A Lennon, 71 6) — J Pennant 8, J Morris 4, S Johnson 5, L Sakho 6 (sub: L Radebe, 84) — A Smith 6, M Viduka 5. Substitutes not used: N Martyn, J Wilcox, D Batty. Booked: Morris, Smith, Camara. NEXT: Leicester (a). FORM: WDLD

Shots on target: (h) 18 (a) 7. Fouls: (h) 17 (a) 21. Offsides: (h) 6 (a) 3

Referee: N Barry 7. Attendance: 30,414