Tim Hobbs reporting

Newcastle kept themselves perfectly placed for any further misfiring from the Premiership big guns by sweeping past Leeds at Elland Road.

Kieron Dyer's first Premiership goals of the campaign and a trademark header from Alan Sheaer rounded off a week to remember for Sir Bobby Robson's men.

They are now three points behind Manchester United with a game in hand and well on the way to ensuring that if this Champions League quest should come crashing to an end, they will get another crack at Europe's elite next season.

Just two years ago, Leeds were in the same situation but with Jonathan Woodgate's shock departure to the north east symptomic of the struggle facing Terry Venables, they have not only fallen behind off the field, but are way short on it.

Their best hope was a European hangover following the Toon to Elland Road, but having seen Lomano LuaLua and Shola Ameobi pull apart Bayer Leverkusen, Robson had the luxury of unleashing the pace of Craig Bellamy and nagging presence of Shearer on Leeds.

And it was the latter who helped Dyer start the procession with a well-crafted goal that owed as much to Newcastle's speed of thought as it the home side's spectating.

From the moment they cleared their lines to halfway, not one Leeds player mustered a challenge as the ball was chipped into Shearer on the edge of the box. He sent it wide toBellamy and collected the return before clipping it into the path of Dyer who had the simple task of driving inside Paul Robinson's near post.

Man-of-the-moment Harry Kewell almost levelled having rounded Shay Given after more defensive mayhem in the visiting ranks, but was forced wide allowing Andy O'Brien to block on the line.

Jason Wilcox, who continues to give pub players up and down the country hope of a Premiership breakthrough, blazed over an inviting goal before sending in a free-kick that Michael Duberry headed wide, but a Leeds goal was as likely as Peter Ridsdale being lofted onto supporters shoulders and paraded around Elland Road.

Kewell's low cross briefly threatened at the restart, before Newcastle simply decided to break downfield and let Dyer double his league tally for the season.

Bellamy's pace saw him win the race for a long ball, Shearer's supporting run took Paul Okon out - literally - allowing the Welshman time to wait for Dyer to arrive and bend an excellent finish low past Robinson.

All that was left for the Toon, other than more Woodgate-based gloating from the terraces, was a goal from Shearer. But on 54 minutes and with a huge helping hand from referee Alan Wiley it arrived.

Seeing the flag up for a foul on Alan Smith deep in Newcastle territory, Leeds stopped allowing Robert to streak down the left touchline. He was taken out by Mills and choosing to dispute the decision rather than defend the delivery, Dubbery and co allowed Shearer to muscle in and bury the Frenchman's cross with a downward header.

Kewell wasted the chance of a consolation by volleying at Shay Given before youngster Brian Kerr thought he'd given Shearer the opportunity to match Dyer's double only to see a rare intervention from Lucas Radebe thwart his skipper.

Dyer came within a post width of his hat-trick after one of several flowing second-half moves, while Leeds lack of support to their front two meant even the usual back problems that led to Woodgate's arrival, did not hamper Newcastle.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Kieron Dyer (Newcastle): Completely at ease with those around him and effortlessly better than those against him. Within inches of a deserved hat-trick

Leeds: Robinson, Mills, Radebe (Lucic 72), Duberry, Bravo, Kelly, Okon (Barmby 70), Seth Johnson, Wilcox (Milner 45), Kewell, Smith.
Subs Not Used: Martyn, Harte.

Newcastle: Given, Griffin (Dabizas 86), O'Brien, Bramble, Hughes, Kerr (Ameobi 81), Dyer (Acuna 81), Speed, Robert, Shearer, Bellamy.
Subs Not Used: Caig, Chopra. 

Att: 40,025
Ref: A Wiley (Staffordshire).