Mark Viduka spared interim-boss Peter Reid a debut home defeat after former Leeds star Robbie Keane had threatened to drag his old club firmly back into the relegation mire.

Viduka's brace, taking his tally to 17 for the season, sandwiched three mad minutes for Leeds which effectively unravelled three weeks of hard work from Reid since taking over as manager from the sacked Terry Venables.

Reid, though, should have been celebrating another victory which would have made him the toast of Elland Road and taken Leeds to the magical 40-point mark. As it is, Leeds are still not out of the relegation woods and they remain just six points clear of the drop zone, with five matches remaining.

For the opening 35 minute  Leeds played the kind of football which led to their comprehensive dismantling of Charlton last week.

During the dominant opening spell, and as in south London against the Addicks, Spurs barely managed to escape from their own half as Harry Kewell and Viduka conjured up an eyecatching display of football.

It was the Australian duo who delightfully combined in the 31st minute to give Leeds a deserved lead, with Viduka maintaining his rich vein of form in front of goal.

Eirik Bakke's through ball to Kewell gave the 24-year-old another opportunity to show off his talent. His control and touch was exquisite, allowing him to deliver a pass into Viduka's stride, and then it was a case of one touch and bang, with Kasey Keller beaten by a firm right-foot shot.

But then the Leeds script was alarmingly ripped up as United's defensive frailties, so evident under former boss Venables, came to the fore, twice in as many minutes.

First Goran Bunjecevic was allowed to flick on a 36th-minute Darren Anderton corner, with Teddy Sheringham applying the finishing touch with a stooping header from eight yards for his 12th goal of the season.

Tottenham's next counter-thrust then silenced Elland Road, with Keane haunting his former team-mates and matching Sheringham's goal tally for this campaign.

The £7million striker simply waltzed past the challenges of Ian Harte, Bakke and Lucas Radebe before curling a 17-yard left-foot shot beyond Paul Robinson.

It was the kind of defending which is almost certain to have prompted an expletive-ridden rollocking from Reid during his half-time team-talk and an adventurous approach to the second half, with James Milner and Jason Wilcox replacing full backs Danny Mills and Harte.

It meant there were no arguments this week as to who would take the equalising penalty when Kewell was hauled down by Keller in the corner of the box.

With Harte off the pitch, Viduka confidently despatched his ninth goal from his last five league matches past Keller, and so sparking a bid for matchwinning glory from Leeds in the closing 15 minutes.

Spurs somehow survived as Alan Smith and Bakke both came close in the closing stages, but it was not to be the victory Reid had hoped.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Mark Viduka (Leeds): A close call with compatriot Harry Kewell, but the goals keep flowing from the big Aussie - when Leeds really need them.

Leeds: Robinson, Mills (Milner 63), Radebe, Duberry, Harte (Wilcox 74), Kelly, Bakke, Matteo, Kewell, Smith, Viduka.
Subs Not Used: Martyn, Barmby, Simon Johnson.
Booked: Bakke.

Tottenham: Keller, Carr, King, Gardner, Taricco, Davies, Bunjevcevic, Anderton, Poyet (Etherington 87), Sheringham, Keane.
Subs Not Used: Sullivan, Perry, Acimovic, Toda.
Booked: Keller, Gardner.

Att: 39,560
Ref: R Styles (Hampshire).