Leeds 3-1 Charlton
Smith 38, Viduka 73,90 - Jensen 84
FA Carling Premiership
Post-match reaction

Leeds shot into fourth place as the deadly double act of Mark Viduka and Alan Smith downed Charlton.

A brace from Viduka and a superb strike from Smith took their combined tally to the season to 12 and ensured David O'Leary's men go back into Champions League action in bouyant mood.

But they did not have it all their own way against Alan Curbishley's men, who in the second half at least, showed why they had gone into the game in sixth spot.

They gave themselves a chance with Claus Jensen's sweetly-struck goal, but in truth lacked the cutting edge provided so impressively by Smith and Viduka.

Not only did they bag their side's goals, they each a hand in the other's, Viduka teeing up Smith's eighth of the season before the England Under-21 man returned the compliment twice.

Viduka could well have ensured complete centre stage with a first-half hat-trick but missed two point-blank headers and was denied by a smart Dean Kiely block as Leeds threatened to swamp the South Londoners.

Dominic Matteo was also thwarted by Kiely before the Charlton keeper was beaten by a goal of stunning simplicity, based on sweet one-touch passing and steered coolly home by Smith.

Lee Bowyer, who was once again outstanding against his former club, set the ball rolling by cutting in from the right and finding Eirik Bakke. His only touch was to guide the ball into Viduka, who spying his strike partner peeling off to his left layed the ball into Smith whose left-foot finish was as incisive as the move itself.

With 10 goals in their last two home games the floodgates seemed destined to open again, only for Charlton to shut them straight away with Kevin Lisbie stretching Nigel Martyn and Jonatan Johansson suddenly stirring from his slumber to force the keeper into a vital stop on half-time.

Charlton were late out for the second half and for a while they seemed to be puzzled by Curbishley's half-time promptings as Bowyer and Smith missed the target with more goals beckoning.

But the industrious Mark Kinsella and Graham Stuart both tested Martyn before the England keeper became the latest in a long line of Leeds injuries, collapsing in a heap after clearing the ball and limping off - and out of the midweek trip to Besiktas - with a knee problem.

Leeds' response was immediate and impressive. Another flowing move as Matteo and Bowyer combined to free Smith down the left and although his near-post cross appeared to be behind Viduka, Yorkshire's own wizard of Oz somehow twisted to volley in a stylish back-heeled finish.

With the prospect of trips to Istanbul and Old Trafford coming up, Leeds took the opportunity to ease off and were almost punished for their lethargy as they failed to clear a corner and Richard Rufus was blocked and substitute Charlie MacDonald forced replacement keeper Paul Robinson to claw away his back-post header.

The respite was short though and the Addicks second sub, John Salako caught the home team napping with a quick corner and Jensen crashed home his second of the season with a dipping drive from the corner of the box.

MacDonald came within inches of an equaliser with another header before Leeds finally pulled themselves together, propelled once again by Smith and Viduka.

Ian Harte was allowed the freedom of West Yorkshire to pick his spot with a left-wing cross, a full-stretch Smith glanced it across goal where Viduka reacted quickly to volley past a helpless Kiely from little more than four yards.

Leeds: Martyn (Robinson 71), Kelly, Harte, Woodgate, Mills, Burns, Bowyer, Bakke, Matteo, Viduka, Smith. Subs Not Used: Bridges, Huckerby, McPhail, Hay.
Goals: Smith 38, Viduka 73, 90.

Charlton: Kiely, Konchesky (Shields 77), Powell, Rufus, Brown, Stuart, Kinsella, Jensen, Robinson (MacDonald 69), Johansson, Lisbie (Salako 77).
Subs Not Used: Ilic, Todd.
Booked: Powell.
Goals: Jensen 84.

Att: 38,837
Ref: M Dean (The Wirral).

O'LEARY STICKS UP FOR SMITH

David O'Leary found himself defending Alan Smith again after the striker ended a memorable week by steering Leeds to fourth in the Premiership.

Smith, who was sent off for England Under-21's in Finland on Tuesday, scored one and set up two for Mark Viduka as his side eventually broke down Charlton's resistence.

But the eight-goal striker was criticised for a challenge on Richard Rufus that led to the centre-back limping off and O'Leary was forced to leap to his defence again.

He said: "I think just because it's Alan Smith, and let me say he was deservedly sent off in the under-21 game, people are talking about it.

"What he did he shouldn't have done and I've had another good chat with him. "Charlton might kick up a fuss and I daresay I would do so if it was one of my players, but I've seen it and it didn't merit a sending off.

"I think he is a wonderful player. He still has a lot to learn and I want him to keep that edge, but I want him to keep it under control.

"That's because I think he, Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer are the kind of players who are the future of England without a doubt.

"His temperament has improved, he is not completely under control, but he has made a marvellous improvement compared to last year."

Charlton chief Alan Curbishley pointed the finger at referee Mike Dean after seeing Rufus limp off and sub Charlie MacDonald take a whack inside the penalty box.

Both challenges went unpunished and Curbishley rounded on the man in the middle after seeing his side crash to defeat.

He said: "I'm disappointed with the refereeing. He (Dean) was missing a lot of challenges, and the players are disappointed with him as well.

"He missed the challenge on Charlie MacDonald, and that was a penalty without a shadow of a doubt, while the tackle on Richard reduced us to 10 men.

"I'm disappointed with his performance and I told him so because this was a game we could have nicked a point from."