Leeds' Champions League destiny remains in their own hands after exorcising the demons of their haunted Istanbul past.

After holding Besiktas to a tame goalless draw at the Inonu Stadium, one win from their remaining two games - against Barcelona at Elland Road next week and AC Milan at the San Siro in early November - would guarantee Leeds a place in the second phase.

Boss David O'Leary has long claimed that reaching the latter stages of Europe's most prestigious tournament would be "a miracle", but after the 3-3 draw between Milan and Barcelona, Leeds still head Group H and must now fancy their chances of finishing in the top two.

At least Wednesday's match helped repair some of the damage caused by the horrific murders of Leeds fans Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight in the Turkish city just over six months ago on the eve of the UEFA Cup semi-final first leg with Galatasaray.

Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale was determined football should be the winner - and for the most part that was the case.

Mercifully Leeds were playing Istanbul-neighbours Besiktas on this occasion, rather than Galatasaray, but there was still a strong undercurrent of hostility.

The coach, accompanied by a police escort, taking the media from their hotel to the ground just five minutes away was sadly stoned by a small number of idiots.

Others offered gesticulating hand signs, some derogatory and the odd few with sense and reasoning - the v-symbol for peace and warm waves.

But then 75 minutes before the game started and as the Leeds players took to the pitch for their customary inspection, there was a disgraceful reaction as an already two-thirds full ground launched into an insulting and inflammatory chant.

As the crescendo grew, O'Leary stood to one side of the centre circle with arms folded and staring defiantly at those so-called supporters who hurled the abuse.

It was the same when Leeds warmed-up just 30 minutes later, while the chants also took place at sporadic intervals during the game.

None more so than when Michael Bridges was stretchered off in the 25th minute with an injury to his right ankle after falling awkwardly.

Besiktas had chosen to play on - despite Bridges writhing on the ground in agony - and it was not until Danny Mills tackled Ahmet Dursun that he was able to receive treatment.

Dursun and Mills squared up to one another and an argument raged around the stricken Bridges as the bitterness among the Besiktas fans spilled over onto the pitch.

Worse was to follow when it appeared as if a bottle was thrown from the crowd and aimed at the 21-year-old as he was carried round the touchline and away to the dressing room for treatment.

Given the hand of friendship which had been permanently extended between Ridsdale and Besiktas president Serdar Bilgili since the draw was made at the end of August, they were totally unpleasant scenes which could not have made either man happy.

At least, though, it lacked the venom and vitriol with which the Galatasaray supporters had sang their expletive chants just over six months ago - but nevertheless the feeling and sentiment were the same.

Ridsdale had earlier been at the airport to greet the small band of 138 Leeds supporters, who were forced to wait on their plane for an hour to accommodate the arrival of the Galatasaray players and officials from Glasgow.

Galatasaray were given a heroes' welcome by their army of fans, so it was imperative the two groups were kept separated before those from United were allowed through.

Understandably, security was tight as the supporters were first bussed to the nearby marina for their two-hour boat trip down the Bosphorus - effectively to keep them off the streets of Istanbul - before being taken to the stadium.

A comical banner with the word 'LUFSea' was draped over the side of the boat, which was escorted every wave of the way by a helicopter carrying a camera crew beaming live pictures back for local television.

The fans were finally allowed into the stadium 15 minutes prior to kick off, and they did their best to make themselves heard above the cacophony of noise created by their Besiktas counterparts and the deafening tannoy system.

It was the Bridges incident which changed the course of the first period as Leeds had looked comfortably in control prior to that flashpoint.

Eirik Bakke should have fired Leeds into a fifth-minute lead as he received Mark Viduka's flick-on from a deep Ian Harte free-kick.

The Norwegian international chose to sidefoot his angled shot from inside the six-yard box, rather than go for power - but it was the direction which was lacking as he aimed his gilt-edged chance straight at keeper Ike Shorunmu.

Harte was then much closer with his next dead-ball delivery as he curled a 20-yard left-foot shot inches wide of Shorunmu's left-hand post.

If either opportunity had gone in, it would have effectively silenced the vociferous fans, who had watched their side lose their last three matches - starting with that rout at Elland Road.

Local opinion had claimed the Besiktas players now lacked heart and soul and certainly for the first 20 minutes they looked as poor as they had done throughout the entire 90 in Yorkshire.

But any divisions in the camp, which had also been suggested, were seemingly healed for the remaining three-quarters of the game as they looked for a semblance of pride after being taken apart.

However, they lacked any cutting edge and finishing quality as Paul Robinson was never truly tested on his European debut and on his first start for 16 months due to a groin injury to Nigel Martyn.

Kahveci Ursun aside, who blazed over every chance Besiktas had in the second half, Leeds enjoyed a relatively comfortable night on and off the pitch.

It was a satisfactory - and quiet - end to a match which had been shrouded in obvious sensitivity during the build up.

Teams

Besiktas: Shorunmu, Beserler (Alacayir 63), Bozkurt, Khlestov, Kahveci, Kahran, Ozdilek (Uzulmez 81), Havutcu, Munch, Sulun, Dursun (Akman 81).

Subs Not Used: Tuncay, Zafer, Bektas, Sahin.

Leeds: Robinson, Kelly, Woodgate, Mills, Harte, Bakke, Bowyer, Burns, Matteo, Bridges (Huckerby 27), Viduka, Huckerby (McPhail 86).

Subs Not Used: Milosevic, Jones, Hay, Evans, Hackworth.

Att: 20,000

Ref: J Wegereef (Holland).