Neat passing, good workrate and closing down, some excellent attacking play against an average Charlton side whose 6th place prior to this game flatters them on this showing - and we STILL almost managed to cock it up.....

Two changes from Spurs, Woody in for Lucas and Jacob Burns for his debut in place of Dacourt who failed a fitness test.

We were on top for most of the first half in what was again a soulless and flat atmosphere at SOTG. Sing ya f***ers!! Vidooks missed a one-on-one against the keeper about 10 minutes in, shooting straight at him after Rufus had let him in but the defender recovered to clear up the rebound for a corner. Bow was sticking in some good corners and from one Bakke (I think) headed just over. Matteo pulled a good save from the keeper too before Charlton had their first shot on goal, Nige making a comfy save.

Then we scored, Bow and Bakke linking up nicely down the right before sliding a ball into Viduka whose little lay-back was perfect for Smiffy who drilled it in from about 10 yards giving the keeper no chance.

Charlton almost equalised immediately when Johannson made Mills look an arse by nutmegging him on the right after Harte had again gone AWOL, his shot skimmed the far post. Smiffy and then Lisbie (?) had shots well saved but 1-0 at HT.

Came out fired up after ht and Bakke's screamer was well blocked. Charlton were on the back foot and the defence had few problems with Woody looking like he'd never been away. Burns was getting stuck in as well in midfield, hmm a little chap that puts himself about, wonder where he's got that from?

We continued to press without making many very clear openings and at the himself taking the kick and limped off to be replaced by Robbo. (On Aire FM on the way home they reckoned at least a month out). It was 2-0 within seconds, Smiffy leaving the Charlton right-back for dead before cutting it back from right on the dead-ball line for Vidooks to coolly flick it high into the net with his heel.

Soon after it was almost three as the Aussie turned the Charlton defence inside out before hitting a thumping shot just over. Kells (!!!) tried his luck from 20 yards, keeper made a great save but the rebound was just wide from Viduka. Robbo made a great save from a header after Kells had laid out a Charlton attacker with a head-high boot (looked a pen to me) but couldn't do anything about Jensen's shot from the corner of the area for 2-1.

Leeds then predictably went into panic mode, even after Rufus had limped off to put Charlton who had used all their subs down to ten men. They had one great chance to equalise but a free header went wide, and in the last seconds Hartey broke up the left, crossed, Smiffy made an almighty cock-up of the header a la Besiktas but Viduka stuck out a long leg to poke it in at the far post. The whistle went 5 seconds after the restart.

Scores on the doors

Nige 7 Did nowt wrong, couple of good saves

Kells 6 Much better coming forward in the absence of any left-sided threat (until they brought Salako on), some good tackles, but should've conceded a pen and still seems unable to control the ball properly

Harte 6 Ditto for Nephew Ian, pretty much

Woody 9 MoTM pretty much faultless, great to have him back

Mills 8 Has obviously learnt from Lucas and Woody, one embarrassing moment in the first half but otherwise no problems

Bakke 8 Excellent again, must be one of the first names on the teamsheet now

Bowyer 7 One of his more anonymous games today, some good moments tho

Burns 7 Promising debut, hurried a few passes and gave away possession but will learn

Matteo 6 A bit out of it really, nothing particularly bad though

Smiffy 8 Still a total revelation from last year, another good game

Viduka 8 What we have been lacking up front, it's obvious. Still looks a little bit like he hasn't given up the pies though :)

Subs

Robbo 6 One good save, no fault for the goal. Jogged up and down aimlessly

Bridges (how must he feel?) Forrest, Hay and McFrail.

Ref: M.Dean 4 utterly shite. But shared his shiteness out.

Crowd - wakey wakey!!!!!

Reporter: Si C