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Tim Hobbs reporting

Robbie Fowler finally gave Leeds United something to smile about by breaking his duck against his old Merseyside foes.

The £11million man struck not once, but twice as David O'Leary's title-chasing side did their best to return to the back pages after hogging the headlines for all the wrong reasons for the past few days.

There was also a goal for Mark Viduka, while only the width of a post prevented Fowler, a boyhood Evertonian, opening his account with a hat-trick as his new side moved to within a point of surprise leaders Newcastle.

But Leeds still made hard work of it, almost blowing another commanding lead as Joe-Max Moore and David Weir struck inside the last 10 minutes to test the nerve-ends at Elland Road - and make Fowler's contribution all the more telling.

In reality Leeds and their latest big-money buy will never have better chance to silence their doubters - or keep up with the pacesetters in a title race that maybe close, but lacks consistency from any of its leading figures.

Walter Smith chose to persist with Steve Watson as a makeshift attacker and was proved wrong again when Moore came off the bench to volley the sweetest of consolations, while the Toffees also lost Mark Pembridge and Alessandro Pistone to injury.

Leeds had been chided for throwing away points against Leicester and crucified in the tabloids all week and although the spectre of Lee Bowyer loomed large all night - the home faithful continually chanted his name - they at least let their football do the talking.

Viduka had already ballooned two free headers over the top when Bowyer's replacement Gary Kelly galloped down the right and chipped a centre across for the big Aussie to stretch and head home his eighth of the season.

Leeds may have only won once without their troubled star this season, but those with a keener eye will know that Kelly has now set up four goals in three games from the right midfield berth usually filled with such fervour by Bowyer.

With Everton so inaffective up front and Leeds controlling possession, Fowler's first goal was almost a formality. This time Danny Mills did the damage down the right with a neat chip to the edge of the box, where the striker's slick chest control and low right-foot finish lived up to his billing.

He then saw a low 25-yard drive scrap the outside of a post before Leeds did just what they did against Leicester and suffered a major wobble at the start of the second half.

The only consolation was that they didn't concede, although Tomasz Radzinski could have had a penalty after being bundled over by Dominic Matteo, while Gary Naysmith should have planted a free header anywhere other than Nigel Martyn's midriff.

Viduka, who showed in flashes that he is the man to partner Fowler, turned sharply and drilled one just wide, before Elland Road was celebrating a second from their new hero, who lashed past Steve Simonsen after David Batty's drive had been blocked.

That should have been that. But again, Leeds rocked and Everton finally accepted the invite to make for another uncomfortable night on the home bench.

First Watson curled a sweet cross to the back post for the unmarked Moore to blast past Martyn with a left-foot volley and then, deep into injury time, Weir was left completely unmarked to head a corner home and least steal some of the spotlight from the man from the other side of Stanley Park.

MAN OF THE MATCH
Robbie Fowler (Leeds) - His two goals aside, the Toxteth Terror was full of neat touches and non-stop running. He would be even better if he'd joined a Leeds team anywhere the top of their form.

Leeds: Martyn, Mills, Ferdinand, Matteo, Harte, Kelly, Batty (Bakke 81), Johnson, Kewell, Viduka (Keane 88), Fowler.
Subs Not Used: Robinson, Wilcox, Duberry.
Booked: Batty.

Everton: Simonsen, Watson, Weir, Unsworth, Pistone (Moore 50), Gemmill, Alexandersson (Tal 75), Xavier, Naysmith, Radzinski, Pembridge (Gascoigne 22).
Subs Not Used: Gerrard, Blomqvist.
Booked: Gascoigne.

Att: 40,201
Ref: P Jones (Loughborough)

Opta Index (Match Stats)

Leeds	Team	Everton
3	Goals	2
7	Shots On Target	4
9	Shots Off Target	5
4	Blocked Shots	2
5	Corners	2
12	Fouls	13
7	Off-Sides	1
1	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0