Tim Hobbs reporting

First Ridsdale and now relegation. For the second time in a week Leeds United banished the dreaded 'r' word from their thoughts by positively thumping Charlton on their own patch.

A hat-trick from Mark Viduka, and an Ian Harte penalty all piled between Harry Kewell's opener and finisher saw the Elland Road side pick up their most emphatic win in arguably their most crucial game of a troubled campaign.

Instead of spending the week beneath Bolton and within the sights of West Ham, Leeds now sit in the relatively safety of 14th spot, having climbed back above Sam Allardyce's side, as well as Aston Villa and Birmingham.

And instead of calling for Peter Ridsdale's head, the phenomenal away support was left saluting interim manager Peter Reid, who having likened Leeds to an ocean liner is already on calmer waters after another choppy week in West Yorkshire.

As well as surely securing their Premiership status, the win will help Reid's claims for a permanent post and showed that, as he has insisted all along - and most of football suspected - that Leeds are too good to down.

Viduka & Smith celebrate

Up against the Premiership's perennial party poopers in Charlton, they produced a performance more akin to their Champions League exploits than this season's fare.

While new supremo Professor John McKenzie wore a broad smile even before the start, Reid had Dominic Matteo, Kewell and Gary Kelly back and after spending the opening six in the Addicks half, including Viduka forcing a low save from Dean Kiely, there was clearly something different about them.

They only had to wait just 12 minutes to get going, as Kewell dribbled in from the left and his movement took him to the far post to tap home Alan Smith's low centre after Viduka had helped the ball back out wide.

Scott Parker, again the home side's most prominent performer, prevented team-mate Claus Jensen stabbing a corner over his own line before Kiely again denied Viduka, beating out his rising drive as he and Smith ran riot down the side of some sluggish central defending.

Smith did not get the goal he deserved but claimed another assist as Richard Rufus - with whom he had a run-in last season - hauled him down in the box allowing Harte to hammer home the penalty.

The rest was all about Viduka. His first came from a long clearance was headed on by Smith for the big Aussie, some 20 yards out, to chest down and crash a low drive across Kiely on the bounce.

Lucas Radebe offered some hope to the reeling Londoners when his boot to the unmentionables halted Parker's burst into the box and although Euell stroked home the second penalty of the day, it did not deter Reid's Leeds.

Kewell takes the plaudits

Paul Robinson joined in the show by turning away a Euell pot-shot at the restart before more fine work from Smith set up a second for Viduka and showed just why he was restored to the sharp end of things.

Taking a throw-in on his chest, he wriggled free of two challenges and charged at a backpedalling defence before teeing up his striker partner for a clinical finish from the edge of the box, inside the post with the outside of the boot.

The hat-trick came three minutes later and Smith, hardly surprisingly, was the catalyst. This time he wriggled free of Rufus, but as he got in the box, Scott Young came shuddering across and sent him sprawling.

Viduka was handed the penalty and took his treble chance with some cheek, while only the crossbar denied him a fourth shortly after Kewell had curled in his second, intercepting a suicidal Tahar El Khalej pass and leaving the Leeds fans almost pinching themselves in disbelief.

You wouldn't Reid about it.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Mark Viduka (Leeds): Scored three, could have had six. Had he not been tee-total Alan Smith's five assists would have secured a hefty sip.

Charlton: Kiely, Young, Rufus, Fish, Konchesky (El Khalej 67), Kishishev (Svensson 45), Parker, Euell, Jensen, Johansson, Lisbie (Powell 45).
Subs Not Used: Rachubka, Robinson.
Booked: Kiely, Svensson.

Leeds: Robinson, Mills, Radebe, Duberry, Harte, Kelly, Matteo, Bakke (Milner 86), Kewell (Wilcox 80), Smith (Simon Johnson 78), Viduka.
Subs Not Used: Martyn, Barmby.
Booked: Matteo.

Att: 26,274
Ref: E Wolstenholme (Lancashire)