THERE was no way that Terry Venables, the Londoner, was ever going to sound like a Tyke, but now that his team is at last winning matches, the locals will forgive him any atrocity he attempts against their native tongue. This workmanlike victory, through goals by Eirik Bakke and Mark Viduka, earned Leeds United their thirteenth point from the 15 available over the holiday period and suddenly Europe, not relegation, is on the agenda at Elland Road. The transformation has been remarkable.

New year is a poignant time for the Leeds manager. He recalled in his programme notes the New Year’s Eve he was told by Malcolm Allison, then his manager, that his time as a footballer was over. A week short of his 32nd birthday, he was playing for Crystal Palace in the old third division when Allison, a flamboyant role model for the young Venables, brought him into his office to tell him to concentrate on coaching. The rest, as they say, is Venables myth, the Leeds manager responsible for taking an exciting Palace team into the top division. If the beginning of that particular gestation was a shock to the system, his experience with this Leeds team has not been dissimilar.

While he and Peter Ridsdale, his chairman, were effusive in their praise of the Leeds fans before this match, especially their patience, the fact is this virtue was more a figment of their imagination. The majority of Leeds fans wanted rid of the Londoner before they faced Bolton Wanderers three weeks ago and it was only the arrival of a commodity unavailable in the January sales — good fortune — that rescued the good ship Venables.

The rub of the green again played its part. For the most part, Leeds’s first-half performance bore many of the hallmarks of a team managed by George Graham, his old chum and a former Leeds manager. “Confidence is all important,” Venables said. “The more we play together and the harder we work, we’ll get the rewards.” Indeed, Bakke’s early goal was merely a ruthless exploitation of slack marking by the visiting team’s defence. A corner from Ian Harte was cleared to Gary Kelly on the right, an invitation for the rejuvenated Irishman to curl a cross to the far post, where Viduka headed to Bakke, who headed into the net.

Fortune had struck a minute earlier for Leeds, when Paul Devlin fell in the Leeds penalty area after a challenge by Harte. What appeared to be a strong claim for a penalty was barely considered by Phil Dowd, the referee. In dark days, lesser challenges receive the ultimate punishment.

“I think the whole ground thought it was a penalty and then they go down and score, so we feel hard done by,” Steve Bruce, the Birmingham manager who is expected to announce the signing of Christophe Dugarry, the Bordeaux and France striker, this afternoon, said.

Paul Robinson had denied Birmingham at least parity in the first half. Damien Johnson, Jovan Kirovski and Clinton Morrison had shots saved by the young goalkeeper.

Until Viduka’s conclusive goal in the 67th minute, Leeds seemed content to absorb the limited threat from the depleted visiting team. Bruce had nine regular first-team players out through injury and the departures of Martin Grainger and Michael Johnson from their defence compounded his plight. Their first-half penalty claim was mirrored just after the break when Morrison turned with Danny Mills before tumbling under his challenge. Again the claim was ignored. “It was a stick-on penalty,” Bruce said.

Kelly reminded the home crowd of the experience that longevity brings when, seeing Viduka making his move in the six-yard area, the full back delayed his chipped cross to perfection. The Australian’s header was a formality.

“It was good to get an early goal,” Venables said. “We’re trying to improve, but we were losing points in the last five minutes. I just want to maintain the improvement.” Spoken like an adopted Tyke.

LEEDS UNITED (4-4-2): P Robinson — G Kelly, J Woodgate, D Mills, I Harte — A Smith, E Bakke (sub: J Milner, 73min), P Okon, J Wilcox — H Kewell, M Viduka. Substitutes not used: N Martyn, S Johnson, M Duberry, R Fowler.

Booked: Smith.

BIRMINGHAM CITY (4-4-2): N Vaesen

— J Kenna, J Hutchinson, M Johnson (sub: G Horsfield, 63), M Grainger (sub: D Powell, 70) — P Devlin, R Savage, A Cissé, D Johnson — J Kirovski, C Morrison. Substitutes not used: I Bennett, B Hughes, C Woodhouse. Booked: Grainger, Savage.

Referee: P Dowd.